The prospective and concurrent effect of exercise on health related quality of life in older adults over a 3 year period.

BACKGROUND: It is not clear whether socioeconomic status influences health outcomes among older adults through its effect on physical activity. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of sex and neighborhood socio-economic status on the change in health related quality of life (HR-QOL) as a function of physical activity over a three-year period. METHODS: This cohort study included French-speaking community-dwelling older adults recruited in primary care practices in the province of Quebec and participating in the 'Étude sur la Santé des Ainés' (ESA)-Services study on the health of the elderly. Primary care practices were recruited through participating general practitioners (GPs) working full-time in the health administrative region. A stratified sample was comprised of various types of primary care practices (family medicine group, local community health services centers, primary care practices with less than 3 GPs, and with at least 3 GPs). In this study sample, 967 participants with scores ≥26 on the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) were included and followed for 3 years to study HR-QOL as a function of reported exercise at baseline and follow-up, controlling for study variables. Analyses were also carried out to study the effect of change in reported exercise at follow-up with respect to baseline and categorised as follows: no change, decrease in exercise and increase in exercise. The interaction terms area of residence socio-economic status*exercise and sex*exercise, were tested. RESULTS: Exercise at baseline did not significantly predict HR-QOL at follow-up when adjusting for all other study variables. Exercise at follow-up was cross-sectionally associated with follow-up HR-QOL. Participants reporting never exercising and those reporting a decrease in exercise reported a lower HR-QOL at follow-up, when controlling for all other study variables. There was no interaction between exercise and sex and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: For healthy ageing, maintaining and increasing physical activity throughout the years is necessary for improved HR-QOL. Past physical activity does not confer protection against future decline of HR-QOL. Future research should focus on potential moderating and mediating psycho-social barriers associated with exercising in older age populations.

Relationship between eating behaviors and physical activity of preschoolers and their peers: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Children learn by observing and imitating others, meaning that their eating behaviors and physical activity may be influenced by their peers. This paper systematically reviews how preschoolers' eating behaviors and physical activity relate to their peers' behaviors, and discusses avenues for future research. METHODS: Six databases were searched for quantitative, peer-reviewed studies published up to July 2015 reporting on the correlates, predictors or effectiveness of peers on eating behaviors and physical activity in preschoolers. Risk of bias was independently assessed by two evaluators using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. RESULTS: Thirteen articles were included: six measured physical activity, and seven assessed eating behaviors. Four of the six physical activity studies reported that children were more active when peers were present, while large peer group size was negatively associated with physical activity in two cross-sectional studies. All nutrition interventions reported that children's eating behaviors may be influenced by their peers. CONCLUSIONS: Although supported by weak evidence, peers appear to influence children's eating behaviors and physical activity. However, this influence may be moderated by the number of peers, gender, age and the perceived status of the role models. Future obesity prevention interventions should consider involving peers as agents for positive eating behaviors and physical activity in preschoolers.

Investigating the autonomic nervous system and cognitive functions as potential mediators of an association between cardiovascular disease and driving performance.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) impacts the autonomic nervous system and cognitive functions related to activities of daily living, including driving an automobile. Although CVD has been linked to unsafe driving, mechanisms underlying this relationship remain elusive. The aim of this study was to examine the role of cognitive functions and the autonomic nervous system as potential mediators of driving performance. Nineteen individuals having recently suffered a cardiac event and 16 individuals with no history of CVD completed a simulated drive using a STISIM simulator to assess driving performance. Heart rate was recorded throughout testing using a Polar RS800CX heart rate monitor, and measures of executive, orienting, and alerting functions were obtained through the Attention Network Test. We used the Baron and Kenny analysis method to assess potential mediating effects of the relationship between CVD and driving performance. Executive function was the only potential mediator investigated to be associated with driving (p < 0.01) and CVD (p < 0.05); however, it did not appear to play a mediating role (p = 0.28). These results suggest that individuals with CVD exhibit decrements in complex cognitive tasks such as driving and that further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying this relationship.