Health-related Physical Fitness and Executive Function in Older Adults: A Prospective Study

Changes in Health-related Physical Fitness on the Behavioural and Electrophysiological Aspects of Cool and Hot Executive Function in Older Adults: A Prospective Study

This study aims to explore the relationship between health-related physical fitness and behavioural and electrophysiological aspects of cool and hot executive function in older adults through a year prospective study design. The main questions it aims to answer whether changes in health-related physical fitness will positively predict changes in behavioural and electrophysiological aspects of cool and hot executive functions in older adults. The participants will be asked to complete pre-test, a one-year observation period, and post-test. Both pre- and post-tests will measure health-related physical fitness, executive function, and various demographic variables and covariates. Health-related physical fitness assessments include cardiorespiratory endurance (YMCA submaximal cycle test), muscular strength (grip strength, chest press, and leg press), muscular endurance (30-second chair stand, 30-second bicep curl), flexibility (range of motion), and balance (Balance Error Scoring System). Executive function will be measured using the Stroop test and emotional Stroop test, with concurrent EEG recording of brain activity. Demographic variables and covariates include sex, age, years of education, annual income, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) Taiwan short form, World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief Assessment (WHOQOL-BREF) Taiwan version, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), digit span tests, and step count recorded by mobile phones or watches over the previous month, resting heart rate, and resting blood pressure. No interventions will be conducted during the one-year observation period, maintaining participants' normal daily living conditions.

Executive function refers to higher-order cognitive functions responsible for planning, organisation, and problem-solving. These functions decline with age and are crucial for maintaining independence and quality of life in older adults. Research indicates that health-related physical fitness may serve as a protective factor against executive function decline, encompassing cardiorespiratory endurance, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and balance. However, no studies have simultaneously tracked the relationship between these health-related physical fitness components and executive function. Thus, this study employs a one-year prospective design to investigate the relationship between changes in health-related physical fitness and executive function in older adults. The study will recruit 200 older adults aged 65 or above for pre-test, a one-year observation period, and post-test. Both pre- and post-tests will measure health-related physical fitness, executive function, and various demographic variables and covariates. Health-related physical fitness assessments include cardiorespiratory endurance (YMCA submaximal cycle test), muscular strength (grip strength, chest press, and leg press), muscular endurance (30-second chair stand, 30-second bicep curl), flexibility (range of motion), and balance (Balance Error Scoring System). Executive function will be measured using the Stroop test and emotional Stroop test, with concurrent EEG recording of brain activity. Demographic variables and covariates include sex, age, years of education, annual income, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) Taiwan short form, World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief Assessment (WHOQOL-BREF) Taiwan version, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), digit span tests, and step count recorded by mobile phones or watches over the previous month, resting heart rate, and resting blood pressure. No interventions will be conducted during the one-year observation period, maintaining participants' normal daily living conditions. This study will provide preliminary evidence on the relationship between health-related fitness and executive function, offering guidance to the public and government agencies for developing exercise programmes aimed at enhancing executive function. By understanding key health-related physical fitness components for exercise design, Taiwan, which faces an ageing society, may potentially reduce government financial and social burdens related to dementia care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 65 or above.
• Able to engage in fitness testing.
• Normal vision or corrected-to-normal vision.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Suffering from cardiopulmonary-related diseases.
• Suffering from cognitive, neurological or psychiatric disorders (e.g., dementia, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, depression, schizophrenia, etc.).
• Suffering from infectious diseases (e.g., hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease).
• Having a history of drug or alcohol abuse.
• Having colour vision deficiency (e.g., colour blindness).
• Having a family history of aneurysm.
• Taking medications that affect brain function.