Author(s): BERGMANN, M., GEDA, Y.E., WOLL, A., KRELL-ROESCH, J., Institution: KARLSRUHE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Country: GERMANY, Abstract-ID: 1334

INTRODUCTION:
Physical fitness is associated with various health outcomes, including but not limited to lower mortality, or decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. However, to date, little is known about the longitudinal associations between physical fitness and the risk of incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the intermediate stage between normal cognitive aging and dementia. Therefore, our aim was to provide an overview of current research on the associations between physical fitness and the risk of incident MCI.
METHODS:
We conducted a systematic literature review. We searched PubMed database and considered longitudinal and/ or prospective cohort studies published in English or German that examined the associations between physical fitness such as strength or endurance with incident MCI. Screening was performed independently by two authors using AI-based web tools. Quality of included studies was assessed using the STROBE checklist.
RESULTS:
The search yielded 2647 studies, of which 21 were finally included in the review. Most studies were conducted in a population-based setting, and the mean follow-up time for incident MCI was 8.2 years. Common measures of physical fitness were strength (i.e., handgrip strength), endurance (i.e., lap time variability from a 400m walk), variables related to muscle quality and function (i.e., sarcopenia, skeletal muscle mass index, muscle function), speed (i.e., finger tapping), balance, and gait-related variables (i.e., speed, variability). In 15 studies, a higher level of physical fitness was associated with a decreased risk of incident MCI, 4 studies did not show a significant association, and some studies reported mixed findings.
CONCLUSION:
Physical fitness is associated with the risk of new onset of MCI in older adults. This highlights the importance of maintaining physical fitness throughout adulthood and/ or preventing a decline in physical fitness in old age to potentially delay the onset of MCI. More research is needed to confirm these observations, and to further untangle the mechanism underlying physical fitness and decreased risk of incident MCI.