Is all movement equal at every age? Differentiating the impact of physical activity types on depressive symptoms and mental acuity in an aging India

Abstract Background The geriatric population has been growing worldwide, leading to a higher prevalence of cognitive conditions in older persons, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries like India. Physical activity (PA) is associated with improved mental well-being and lessen these symptoms, but most of the researches are carried out on the Western nations and there is a gap in the Indian context. Objective To examine the correlation amongst different forms of physical activities and their association with cognitive impairment (CoI) and depressive symptoms among Indian older adults. Methodology We analysed dataset from the wave 1 of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (2017-18), covering 59,813 respondents aged 45 years or older. The Adjusted Prevalence Ratios (APRs) were assessed utilizing the Multivariable Poisson Regression models, accounting for demographic and socioeconomic factors. Findings Estimated prevalence of CoI among older adults was 11.11%, while depressive symptoms affected 27.39% of the study population. Individuals engaging in vigorous physical activity had a lower prevalence of CoI (7.72%) than those who were not involved in such activities (12.27%) (APR of CoI: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.94–1.22). Holistic PA, such as yoga, was associated with the lowest prevalence of CoI (4.69%) compared to those not engaging in such activities (11.77%) with an APR of 1.42 (95% CI: 1.22–1.67). Depressive symptoms were less prevalent among individuals engaged in any form of physical activity. The lowest proportions were observed among participants involved in holistic activities (23.76%) compared to non-participants (27.76%). Conclusion Engagement in physical activities, including holistic practices, can be beneficial in reducing the risk of cognitive function deterioration and depressive symptoms. Engagement in these activities can be promoted as a non-pharmaceutical therapeutic approach to alleviate the mental well-being and cognitive functioning in this population. More research evidence, especially from longitudinal studies, is needed. These correlations need to be verified and further substantiated through longitudinal research.