Household physical activity is positively associated with gray matter volume in older adults

Background Total physical activity is positively associated with brain volume and cognition in older adults. While we have ample evidence that recreational physical activity influences brain health, the contributions of other daily activities are less understood. In particular, the associations between household physical activity and brain health in older adults is underexplored. The purpose of this study was to identify associations between household physical activity, brain volume, and cognition in a sample of cognitively unimpaired older adults. Methods We report data from 66 cognitively unimpaired older adults (71 ± 4 years) who participated in a health evaluation, cognitive assessment, and structural brain imaging. Physical activity was assessed using the Phone-FITT questionnaire and separated into household and recreational physical activity. We quantified whole brain volume, gray matter volume, and white matter volume, and assessed cognitive performance in four domains: memory, working memory/attention, processing speed, and executive function. Associations between physical activity, brain volume, and cognition were investigated in an omnibus approach using two multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) models. The first model assessed the associations between physical activity and brain volume adjusting for age, sex, Framingham Risk score (FRS) and intracranial volume. The second model assessed the associations between physical activity and overall cognitive performance adjusting for age, sex, FRS and education. Post hoc regression analyses were conducted to investigate significant MANOVA results. We also conducted further regression analyses to investigate associations with hippocampal and frontal lobe volume. Results Household, but not recreational, physical activity was positively associated with brain volume measurements (F = 3.07, p = .035), specifically gray matter volume (t = 2.51, p = .015). Further exploratory analyses identified that household physical activity was associated with hippocampal (p = .015) and frontal lobe (p = .010) volume. No significant relationships were observed between household or recreational physical activity and cognition. Conclusion Time spent engaging in household physical activity was positively associated with brain volume, specifically gray matter volume, in older adults. Highlighting the benefits associated with household chores may motivate older adults to be more active by providing a more attainable, low risk form of physical activity.

Risk factors associated with breast cancer among women attending a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore: a case control study

Background: Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers in both developing and developed countries. Owing to regional variations in distribution of risk factors, there is geographical variation in incidence of breast cancer. This study was attempted to assess the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors associated with breast cancer among women attending a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A hospital based case-control study was carried out in KMIO, Bangalore, India from May 2013 to February 2014. Newly diagnosed primary cases of female breast cancer of any age and one control per case matched by 5 years age class interval were interviewed, using a questionnaire until required sample was met. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 18.0.Results: The study population consisted of 135 cases of breast cancer and 135 controls. The mean age was 50 years (SD±10.41) and 94 (34.8%) of them belonged to 45-54 years age group. After forward logistic regression, the risk factors significant at P<0.05 were age at first pregnancy >20 years OR 4.49 (95% CI 1.21-16.62), total duration of lactation <48 months OR 7.96 (95% CI 2.20-21.68), consumption of non-vegetarian diet OR 6.96 (95% CI 1.45-33.25), BMI ≥23 OR 4.91 (95% CI 1.25-19.23) and household physical activity ≤120 minutes/day OR 8.52 (95% CI 1.98-36.64), watching television during weekends >180 minutes/day OR 4.64(95%CI 2.71-7.78).Conclusions: The modifiable risk factors of breast cancer include age at first pregnancy, total duration of lactation, non-vegetarian diet, increased BMI and lower household physical activity and non-modifiable risk factor being age at menopause.

Childhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage, Occupational, Leisure-Time, and Household Physical Activity, and Diabetes in Adulthood

Background:Regular physical activity is a key way to prevent disease. However, we have a limited understanding of the socioeconomic precursors and glucoregulatory sequelae of engaging in physical activity in different domains.Methods:We examined the associations among life course socioeconomic disadvantage; meeting the physical activity guidelines with leisure-time physical activity, occupational physical activity, or household physical activity; and prediabetes and diabetes in the Midlife in the United States national study (N = 986).Results:Childhood disadvantage was associated with lower odds of meeting the guidelines with leisure-time physical activity (odds ratio = 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.65–0.86). Adulthood disadvantage was associated with higher odds of meeting the guidelines with occupational physical activity (odds ratio = 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.49–2.53). Importantly, while meeting the guidelines with leisure-time physical activity was associated with lower odds of prediabetes and diabetes, we found no evidence for associations among occupational physical activity, household physical activity, and glucoregulation.Conclusion:Current US physical activity guidelines do not differentiate between physical activity for leisure or work, assuming that physical activity in any domain confers comparable health benefits. We documented important differences in the associations among lifetime socioeconomic disadvantage, physical activity domain, and diabetes, suggesting that physical activity domain potentially belongs in the guidelines, similar to other characteristics of activity (eg, type, intensity).