The Association Between Midlife Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Late Life: Age Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study

• Published in: The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
• Main Authors: Chang, Milan, Snaedal, Jon, Einarsson, Bjorn, Bjornsson, Sigurbjorn, Saczynski, Jane S., Aspelund, Thor, Garcia, Melissa, Gudnason, Vilmundur, Harris, Tamara B., Launer, Lenore J., Jonsson, Palmi V.
• Other Authors: Meyers Primary Care Institute, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Aging; Cognitive function; Depressive symptomatology; Mid-life physical activity; Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms; Geriatrics; Mental Disorders; Iceland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glv196; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/30595; https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/faculty_pubs/874

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence on the long-term association between physical activity (PA) and depressive symptoms in old age. We examined the association of midlife PA and depressive symptoms in late life. METHODS: A large community-based population residing in Reykjavik, Iceland, participated in a longitudinal study with an average of 25 years of follow up. Midlife PA was categorized as active and inactive groups (n = 4,140, Active = 1,292, Inactive = 2,848, mean age 52+/-7 years). The main outcome had six or higher depressive symptoms assessed by the 15-item Geriatric Depression scale. Participants who had a history of depression (n = 226), and were diagnosed with dementia (n = 393), and had incomplete cognitive data (n = 595) and incomplete analytical data (n = 422) were excluded. Level of weekly PA was ascertained by a questionnaire at midlife. Depressive symptoms were assessed on average 25 (+/-4) years later. RESULTS: After controlling for demographic and health-related risk factors, those who were active at midlife were less likely to have high level of depressive symptomatology (6 or higher Geriatric Depression scale scores, odds ratio = 0.58, 95% confidence interval: 0.41-0.83, p < .005) compared with those who were inactive in midlife. After full adjustment of three domains of late-life cognitive function the results remained significant (odds ratio = 0.61, 95% confidence interval: 0.43-0.86, p = .005). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that midlife PA is associated with lower depressive symptoms 25 years later. Participating in regular PA in midlife may improve mental health in late life.