Author(s): HASHIMOTO, S., KOSE, Y.2, IKENAGA, M.3, YAMADA, Y.4, TAKEDA, N.5, MORIMURA, K.6, KIMURA, M.7, KIYONAGA, A.1, HIGAKI, Y.1, Institution: FUKUOKA UNIVERSITY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 821

INTRODUCTION:
Physical inactivity increases the risk of dementia [1]. Previous studies have focused on total sedentary time, without accounting for how it accumulates throughout the day. Frequent sedentary breaks have been associated with improved glycemic and blood pressure control [2,3], both of which are recognized risk factors for dementia. In this study, we examined the association between frequency of sedentary breaks and cognitive function in Japanese community-dwelling older adults.
METHODS:
In this cross-sectional study, 952 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years participated and wore a triaxial accelerometer for 10 consecutive days. Activity intensity was derived from accelerometer data. Sedentary behavior was defined as ≤1.5 METs, and sedentary breaks were identified as transitions from sedentary behavior to activity >1.5 METs. Participants were categorized into quartiles (Q1–Q4) according to the daily frequency of sedentary breaks. Cognitive performance was assessed using a battery of tests, including the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Logical Memory I and II subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale–Revised, and the Trail Making Test A and B (TMT-A, TMT-B). Cognitive performance was compared across quartiles.
RESULTS:
In men, a higher frequency of sedentary breaks was significantly associated with better performance on TMT-A and TMT-B after adjustment for age, waking time, total sedentary time, and light-intensity physical activity (TMT-A: p for trend = 0.02; TMT-B: p for trend = 0.04). In women, a higher frequency of sedentary breaks was significantly associated with better performance on TMT-A (p < 0.01 for trend).
CONCLUSION:
A higher sedentary break frequency in daily life was associated with better TMT performance in community-dwelling older adults. These associations persisted even after adjusting for total sedentary time and light-intensity physical activity, suggesting that the frequency of sedentary breaks reflects a different aspect of sedentary behavior. These results suggest that the frequency of sedentary breaks may represent an important behavioral indicator of cognitive performance in older adults.
Reference
1. Livingston G, et al., Lancet., 2024
2. Hartman SJ, et al., Circulation., 2025
3. Duran AT, et al., Med Sci Sports Exerc., 2023