Association between physical and mental exercises and mild cognitive impairment in the elderly aged ≥65 years in communities in Guangzhou, Guangdong

Objective To understand the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly aged ≥65 years in communities in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, explore its correlation with physical and mental exercises, and provide data support for the development of relevant policies and measures.

Methods A multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used to select study subjects for a face-to-face questionnaire survey of the individual characteristics, health-related behaviors and chronic disease prevalence in the residents aged ≥65 years in communities in Guangzhou. The correlation between physical and mental exercises and MCI was analyzed by χ² test and logistic regression model.

Results In communities in Guangzhou, the prevalence rate of MCI in the elderly aged ≥65 years was 23.78% (274/1 152). After adjusting for sex, age, education level, occupation, marital status, alcohol use, smoking, place of residence, hypertension, and stroke, the elderly who took either physical excises or mental exercise odds ratio (OR)=0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.27–0.97 and both physical excises and mental exercise (OR=0.30, 95%CI: 0.15–0.58) had lower risk for MCI than those who took no exercise. Further subgroup analysis showed that, compared with men, the protective effect of either physical excises or mental exercise (OR=0.41, 95%CI: 0.18–0.89) against MCI was more significant in women. Regardless of gender, physical and mental exercises could reduce the risk for MCI in the elderly (P<0.05). By age stratification, it was found that physical and mental exercises could significantly reduce the incidence of MCI in the elderly in all age groups (P<0.05). Taking either physicalexcises or mental exercise had stronger protective effect in age group 65–<70 years than in age groups 70–<80 years and ≥80 years (OR=0.30, 95%CI: 0.10–0.92).

Conclusion Physical and mental exercises reduced the risk for MCI in the elderly aged ≥65 years in communities in Guangzhou, and the association of physical and mental exercises with MCI differed with age and gender in the elderly. Therefore, it is necessary to consider designing suitable physical and mental exercise programs in the development of MCI prevention and treatment strategies in the elderly.