Physical activity levels and sedentary behaviour of people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment in the community: A cross-sectional validation study
Jane Hopkins1, Joanne McVeigh1,2,3, Keith Hill4,5, Elissa Burton1,31Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia2Movement Physiology Laboratory, School of Physiology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa3enAble Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia4Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia5National Centre for Healthy Ageing, Monash University and Peninsula Health, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
Abstract
Background: Assessments of physical activity and sedentary behaviour are important to better understand health and wellbeing in older adults. Self-report tools are popular when measuring physical activity, even though criterion and construct validity can be limited. The aim of this study was to determine (1) physical activity levels and sedentary behaviour of people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in the community, (2) validity of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) compared to activPALTM accelerometers, and (3) feasibility of wearing activPALTM accelerometers in this population.
Methods: This cross-sectional study used baseline data from participants with MCI in the Balance on the Brain Randomised Control Trial. ActivPALTM accelerometers were used to measure physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Self-reported physical activity was measured with the PASE.
Results: Seventy-nine (87%) participants had valid accelerometer data. The median age was 71 years and 56% of participants were female. Sedentary behaviour accounted for 10.6 hours/day and moderate physical activity accounted for a median of 9 minutes/day. There was a fair positive correlation between the PASE and daily stepping time (r(77) = .35, p = .002), daily step count (r(77) = .36, p = .001), and number of steps in activities completed for ≤ 1 minute (r(77) = .42, p = .0001).
Discussion: Community-dwelling older adults with MCI have minimal engagement in moderate-intensity physical activity and high levels of sedentary behaviour. A fair positive criterion validity was found with the PASE and accelerometer-measured physical activity. ActivPALTM accelerometers were feasible for use with this population.
Biography
Jane Hopkins is a PhD candidate at Curtin university. Her PhD is entitled Physical activity of community-dwelling older adults living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This presentation is from data collected as part of her PhD studies. She is also an occupational therapist working as the Coordinator of Cognitive Care at Fiona Stanley, Fremantle Hospitals Group.