Interactive Associations Between Physical Activity and Sleep Architecture on Cognition in Community-Dwelling Older Black Adults

Authors

• Joshua L. Gills, NYU Grossman School of MedicineFollow
• Anhiti Dharmapuri, NYU Grossman School of MedicineFollow
• Rachel McCray, NYU Grossman School of MedicineFollow
• Shreshtha Shah, NYU Grossman School of MedicineFollow
• Anthony Q. Briggs, NYU Grossman School of MedicineFollow
• Purbanka Pahari, NYU Grossman School of MedicineFollow
• Dominique Tanner, NYU Grossman School of MedicineFollow
• Mark A. Bernard, NYU Grossman School of MedicineFollow
• Elena Valkanova, University of South FloridaFollow
• Korey Kam, Ichan School of Medicine at Mount SinaiFollow
• Ankit Parekh, Ichan School of Medicine at Mount SinaiFollow
• Lisa L. Barnes, Rush UniversityFollow
• Gbenga Ogedegbe, NYU Grossman School of MedicineFollow
• Omonigho M. Bubu, NYU Grossman School of MedicineFollow

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests an interactive relationship between physical activity (PA) and sleep in shaping cognitive performance. Enhanced sleep features, like greater K-complex density and slow-wave activity, may reflect mechanisms through which PA and restorative sleep improve cognitive function. PURPOSE: To examine how PA and sleep architecture interact to influence cognition in older Black adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 51 participants (mean age: 63.1 ± 15.8 years) from NYU’s Aging Research In Sleep Equity and Dementia Prevention Program. Participants underwent neuropsychological testing, polysomnography, clinical evaluation, and seven days of actigraphy to assess PA and sedentary behavior. Cognitive tasks measured processing speed and verbal fluency, while sleep metrics included K-complex density (Stages N2-N3) and slow oscillation activity (SOA; 0.5-1.5 Hz). PA measures included moderate activity time and sedentary bout duration. Multivariable regression and bivariate correlations tested PA, sleep, and cognition relationships, adjusting for age, education, sex, BMI, and apnea hypopnea index (4% oxygen desaturation). RESULTS: Participants were 60.8% female, with obesity common (BMI: 30.7 ± 5.9 kg/m²) and an average global cognitive score of 24.6 ± 3.6. Higher moderate PA was significantly associated with faster processing speed (β = -0.40 [0.04–0.50], p = 0.004) and increased K-complex density in N2 (p < 0.001), and N3 (p < 0.001). Longer sedentary bouts trended toward lower verbal fluency scores (β = -0.30 [0.04–0.00], p = 0.058) and were linked to reduced SOA (β = -0.41 [0.04–0.50], p = 0.016). Greater K-complex density correlated with better processing speed, while higher SOA was associated with better verbal fluency (N2: r = -0.33, p = 0.040; N3: r = -0.34, p = 0.035; SOA: r = 0.34, p = 0.032). PA interacting with K-complex density (N3) predicted faster processing speed (β = -0.27 [31.13, 40.57], p < 0.050), while combined sedentary bouts and SOA were significantly associated with verbal fluency (β = -0.35 [12.74, 16.21], p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: PA and sleep microarchitecture together impact cognition. Larger, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Recommended Citation

Gills, Joshua L.; Dharmapuri, Anhiti; McCray, Rachel; Shah, Shreshtha; Briggs, Anthony Q.; Pahari, Purbanka; Tanner, Dominique; Bernard, Mark A.; Valkanova, Elena; Kam, Korey; Parekh, Ankit; Barnes, Lisa L.; Ogedegbe, Gbenga; and Bubu, Omonigho M. (2026) "Interactive Associations Between Physical Activity and Sleep Architecture on Cognition in Community-Dwelling Older Black Adults," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 15: Iss. 8, Article 13.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol15/iss8/13