RELATIONSHIPS AMONG AGE, EXERCISE, HEALTH, AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN A BRITISH SAMPLE

This study was designed to evaluate the association of age, self-rated health, and walking activity with four measures of cognitive functioning in 6,979 men and women (age range: 18-94 years) randomly selected from British electoral registers. Assessments included a face-to-face interview regarding health and health beliefs as well as cognitive testing (including simple reaction time [SRT] and choice reaction time [CRT]). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that faster reaction time (RT) speed was associated with both younger age and better self-rated health. There were also significant interactions of Age by Self-Rated Health and of Health Rating by Walking Activity for CRT, as well as an interaction of Age by Walking Activity for both SRT and CRT. Exercise and health may have an interactive effect on RT speed, and both exercise and health may modify age-related changes in RT.