Engagement in moderate-intensity physical activity supports overnight emotional memory retention in older adults

ImportancePreserving the ability to vividly recall emotionally rich experiences contributes to quality of life in older adulthood. While prior work suggests that moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) may bolster memory, it is unclear whether this extends to emotionally salient memories consolidated during sleep. ObjectiveTo investigate associations between engagement in physical activity (PA) and overnight emotional memory retention and examine whether theoretically replacing 30-minutes of lower-intensity activity with MPA is associated with better consolidation. Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA cross-sectional study of 40 community-dwelling older adults free of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Data were collected from May 2018 to July 2022 and analyzed from January to July 2024. ExposuresParticipants completed an overnight polysomnography (PSG) with emotional memory tested before and after sleep and a self-report questionnaire assessing habitual PA. Main Outcome(s) and Measures(s)Emotional memory performance was assessed via recognition memory or mnemonic discrimination performance. Overnight memory retention was calculated by subtracting immediate test from delayed test performance for both recognition memory and mnemonic discrimination, with more negative scores indicating lower memory retention. Frequency and duration of MPA, light-intensity PA, non-exertive activity, and sedentary behavior were calculated from the Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) Activities Questionnaire for Older Adults. Isotemporal substitution modelling evaluated whether statistically reallocating time spent in sedentary and lower-intensity activity to MPA was associated with better overnight memory retention. ResultsData from 40 participants were analyzed ({square}age=72.3{+/-}5.8, 26 female). Better overnight emotional recognition memory retention was associated with the frequency ({beta}=0.663, SE=0.212, p=0.003) and duration ({beta}=0.214, SE=0.101, p=0.042) of MPA. No relationships were found with mnemonic discrimination or neutral recognition memory. Statistically modelling the replacement of 30 minutes of lower-intensity activity with MPA was associated with better overnight retention of emotional memories ({beta}=0.108, SE=0.048, p=0.030), but not neutral ({beta}=-0.029, SE=0.069, p=0.679). Conclusions and RelevanceMPA may enhance sleep-dependent consolidation of emotional memories in older adults. Modest increases in MPA may yield significant benefits for sleep-dependent emotional memory retention. These findings may guide interventions to preserve memory function and inform public health recommendations by demonstrating that substituting even short durations of low-intensity activity for MPA could produce significant cognitive gains relevant for maintaining quality of life in older adulthood.