A - 57 Relationship between Exercise Participation and Cognitive/Emotional Symptom Endorsement in Older Former College Athletes

Abstract

Exercise participation has been associated with improved physical health, cognition, and psychological well-being as well as reduced risk for chronic illness and mortality. The effects of exercise participation in former athletes are less understood; this study investigated the relationship between current exercise participation and cognitive/emotional symptoms in former college athletes. Former college athletes aged 50–87 (N = 597, 44.2% female) completed the College Level Aging Athlete Study (CLEAATS) survey including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Cognitive Function Instrument (CFI), Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-m), and self-reported weekly exercise involvement, classified as aerobic exercise (e.g., jogging/cycling), anaerobic exercise (e.g., weightlifting), and “other wellness activities”(e.g., yoga/meditation). Four multiple linear regression models investigated whether current exercise participation predicted mood and cognition, adjusting for demographic factors. Overall models for PHQ-8 [F(6,590) = 8.87, p < 0.001], GAD-7 [F(6,590) = 4.87, p < 0.001], CFI [F(6,590) = 3.45, p = 0.002], and TICS-m [F(6,590) = 15.99, p < 0.001] were significant. Individually, aerobic exercise was a significant predictor of PHQ-8 (b = −0.35, p < 0.001), GAD-7 (b = −0.18, p = 0.007), CFI (b = −0.12, p = 0.021), and TICS-m (b = 0.18, p = 0.022) scores, such that more exercise predicted lower emotional/cognitive difficulties. Engagement in “other wellness activities”was significantly associated with higher TICS-m (b = 0.18, p = 0.024) scores. Anaerobic exercise was not a significant predictor in any model. Consistent with research in other populations, participation in aerobic exercise predicted better cognitive/emotional functioning in former college athletes. Involvement in other forms of exercise did not consistently predict greater functioning, though “other wellness activities”was associated with better objective cognition. Results emphasize the importance of recommending aerobic exercise for former athletes.