Self-reported physical activity and sleep quality is associated with working memory function in middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract
While previous work has shown a positive relationship between cognitive performance and lifestyle factors in younger adults, evidence for this relationship among middle-aged and older adults has been mixed. The current study aimed to further test the relationship among physical activity, sleep quality, and memory performance in middle-aged and older adults, and to test whether this relationship holds up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results showed that physical activity was associated with better sleep quality and better working memory performance, and better sleep quality was associated with better working memory and self-perceptions of everyday memory abilities. Additionally, we found that the effects of physical activity on working memory were partially mediated by sleep quality. While these effects were small and only correlational in nature, they lend further support to the notion that sleep quality and physical activity are beneficial to memory later in life, even during a global pandemic.
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Research summary
The paper explores the relationship between physical activity, sleep quality, and working memory in middle-aged and older adults, which is relevant to understanding cognitive health in aging populations. However, the findings are correlational and the effects are described as small, indicating that while the research contributes to the field, it does not present significant advancements or solutions to the root causes of aging or age-related decline. Thus, the impact is limited.
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