The impact of physical activity and sex differences on intraindividual variability in inhibitory performance in older adults |
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| Authors: | Delphine Fagot Christian Chicherio Cédric T. Albinet Nathalie André Michel Audiffren |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Center for Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Switzerland and Swiss National Center of Competence in Research LIVES–Overcoming vulnerability: life course perspectives, Switzerland;2. Center for Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, Switzerland and Neurology Clinic, Geneva, Switzerland;3. Neurology Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland;4. CeRCA (CNRS-UMR 7295), Laboratoire Sciences de la Cognition, Technologie, Ergonomie (SCoTE), Université de Toulouse, INU Champollion, Albi, France;5. CeRCA (‘CNRS-UMR 7295), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France |
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| Abstract: | It is well-known that processing speed and executive functions decline with advancing age. However, physical activity (PA) has a positive impact on cognitive performances in aging, specifically for inhibition. Less is known concerning intraindividual variability (iiV) in reaction times. This study aims to investigate the influence of PA and sex differences on iiV in inhibitory performance during aging. Healthy adults were divided into active and sedentary groups according to PA level. To analyse iiV in reaction times, individual mean, standard deviation and the ex-Gaussian parameters were considered. An interaction between activity level and sex was revealed, sedentary females being slower and more variable than sedentary men. No sex differences were found in the active groups. These results indicate that the negative impact of sedentariness on cognitive performance in older age is stronger for females. The present findings underline the need to consider sex differences in active aging approaches. |
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| Keywords: | Intraindividual variability physical activity sex differences aging inhibition |
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