The association between global cognitive function and walking capacity in individuals with broad ranges of cognitive and physical function: Are there sex differences?
Elise Wiley, Kenneth S Noguchi, Kevin Moncion and 8 others
PMID 36188989WHAT IT FOUND
Walking distance predicted cognitive scores, but sex did not change this link.
Males scored 2.9 points lower on the MoCA than females across all walking distances. This suggests males may need more cognitive support even when physical capacity is similar.
Key findings
01Walking distance on the 6-Minute Walk Test was significantly associated with global cognitive function scores, explaining a small portion of the variance.
02Sex did not significantly interact with walking distance to predict cognitive scores, meaning the relationship between walking and cognition was similar for males and females.
03Males had significantly lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores than females by 2.9 points, regardless of their walking capacity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (59 participants), which limits the generalizability of the findings. The study used the MoCA, a global screening tool, rather than domain-specific cognitive tests, so it cannot identify which specific cognitive areas are affected. The design was cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that walking capacity causes changes in cognitive function or vice versa. Participants were required to walk at least 10 meters independently, excluding those with severe mobility impairments.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that sex moderates the relationship between walking and cognition. The interaction was not significant. The finding is that males scored lower on cognition overall, but the strength of the link between walking distance and cognitive score was the same for both sexes.