TY - JOUR AU - Fink, Anne AU - Reinke, Constantin AU - Aretz, Benjamin AU - Heneka, Michael T AU - Doblhammer, Gabriele TI - Can vigorous physical activity mitigate the effect of systemic inflammation on cognitive performance? Results from a large older community dwelling population in The Netherlands. JO - Journal of Alzheimer's disease VL - 108 IS - 3 SN - 1387-2877 CY - Amsterdam PB - IOS Press M1 - DZNE-2025-01317 SP - 1369 - 1377 PY - 2025 AB - BackgroundElevated systemic inflammation is associated with poorer cognitive function, while vigorous physical activity enhances cognition.ObjectiveThis study examines whether physical activity moderates the relationship between systemic inflammation and cognitive performance.MethodsWe analyzed 24,661 adults (50+) from the Dutch Lifelines cohort across two waves. Cognitive performance was assessed via a validated composite score from the Cogstate Brief Battery, with higher scores indicating lower cognitive performance. Leukocyte count (3-11 × 109 cells/liter) served as a systemic inflammation biomarker, categorized as low (<6.5 × 109 cells/liter) or high (≥6.5 × 109 cells/liter). We used the Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-Enhancing Physical Activity to define moderate (0, 1-149, 150+ minutes) and vigorous (0, 1-74, 75+ minutes) physical activity. We performed linear regression models to examine the effect of inflammation and vigorous physical activity on cognition, adjusting for moderate physical activity and covariates. An interaction effect analyzed the potential moderation of vigorous physical activity.ResultsIndividuals with high systemic inflammation (SI) levels in both waves exhibited significantly longer reaction times (b = 0.062 [95 KW - Humans KW - Netherlands: epidemiology KW - Male KW - Female KW - Inflammation: psychology KW - Inflammation: epidemiology KW - Exercise: physiology KW - Exercise: psychology KW - Aged KW - Cognition: physiology KW - Middle Aged KW - Independent Living: psychology KW - Cohort Studies KW - Neuropsychological Tests KW - Cognitive Dysfunction KW - Aged, 80 and over KW - Aging in Place KW - Alzheimer's disease (Other) KW - cognitive performance (Other) KW - cohort study (Other) KW - physical activity (Other) KW - systemic inflammation (Other) LB - PUB:(DE-HGF)16 C6 - pmid:41100846 C2 - pmc:PMC12647380 DO - DOI:10.1177/13872877251386480 UR - https://pub.dzne.de/record/282554 ER -