Physical activity and cognitive performance: cross-sectional analysis of the Brazilian longitudinal study of adult health (ELSA-Brazil).

Authors

Amanda M Pádua, Claudia K Suemoto, Patrícia Fonseca Estrada, Marcos R N Cavalcante, Alessandra C Goulart, Paulo Andrade Lotufo, Itamar de Souza Santos, Isabela M Bensenor

Published in

Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Volume 81. Pages 101076. Sep 01, 2026. Epub Sep 01, 2026.

Abstract

Evidence on the relationship between Leisure-Time Physical Activity (LTPA), Commuting Physical Activity (CPA), and cognitive performance is inconsistent.
To examine the associations between LTPA, CPA, and cognitive performance in adults from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA‒Brazil).
This cross-sectional analysis included 13,340 participants (median age 51 years; 54.5% women). Physical Activity (PA) was assessed using the long-form International Physical Activity Questionnaire, including LTPA and CPA. Cognitive performance was measured by word memory, verbal fluency, and the Trail Making Test Part B. Z-scores were computed for each test, and a global cognitive score was derived as their mean. Linear regression models estimated associations between PA levels and cognitive performance after multivariable adjustment, including occupational status. Analyses were stratified by sex and conducted in the overall sample.
LTPA inactivity was associated with lower scores for verbal fluency (β = -0.07; 95% CI: -0.10 to -0.04), executive function (β = -0.10; 95% CI: -0.13 to -0.06), and global cognition (β = -0.06; 95% CI: -0.08 to -0.03). CPA inactivity showed associations in the opposite direction, with higher executive function (β = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.12) and memory in men (β=0.05; 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.10). After adjustment for occupational status, CPA associations attenuated and lost significance.
In this cross-sectional study, the relationship between PA and cognition differed by domain. LTPA was associated with better cognitive scores, while CPA showed non-favorable or null associations after adjustment.

PMID:
42679489
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Sep 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.