Physical activity as a mediator of anxiety and cognitive functioning in Parkinson's disease

Autor: Joseph Bunch, Elizabeth Rahmani, Christopher R. Hill, Halbert Beaver, Holly Timblin, Shania Garrett, Jacob D. Jones
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Mental Health and Physical Activity. 20:100382
ISSN: 1755-2966
DOI: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2021.100382
Popis: Introduction Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) are at increased risk of developing anxiety, cognitive decline, and reduced physical activity. Although anxiety is a risk factor for cognitive decline, the mechanisms underlying the relationship are unclear. The present study assessed if the relationship between cognition and anxiety symptoms is mediated by physical activity in a sample of individuals with PD followed for up to five years. Methods Participants (N = 487) were individuals newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease followed by the Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI). Participants completed a neuropsychological battery and questionnaires of anxiety and physical activity. Structural equation models examined both the between-person and within-person effects of anxiety and cognition mediated through physical activity. Results Analyses revealed a significant direct effect of anxiety predicting cognitive functioning. Additionally, there was a significant indirect within-person effect; meaning that individuals who became more anxious over time, they also reported becoming less physically active, which was subsequently associated with longitudinal declines in cognitive functioning. Discussion Findings suggest that worsening anxiety early in the course of PD may be a risk factor for reduced participation in physical activities and subsequent cognitive decline.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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