Association of physical activity and visual attention in older adults

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine possible associations between physical activity and visual attention in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Older adults (age 65-95) completed the Useful Field of View (UFOV(R)) test of visual attention, and they also reported current physical activity levels using the Exercise Participation Questionnaire (EPQ) and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Results: UFOV(R) performance was significantly correlated with both measures of physical activity, but some of these effects overlapped with the effects of age. The 21 participants (15%) who reported regular participation on the EPQ were found to have significantly better UFOV(R) scores than the more inactive participants both before and after controlling for age, gender, and visual acuity. Discussion: The preservation of visual attention skills across the life span may be more highly correlated with regular participation in exercise training activities than it is with more general occupational and leisure-related physical activity.