This study was designed to evaluate the association of age, self-rated
health, and walking activity with four measures of cognitive function
ing in 6,979 men and women (age range: 18-94 years) randomly selected
from British electoral registers. Assessments included a face-to-face
interview regarding health and health beliefs as well as cognitive tes
ting (including simple reaction time [SRT] and choice reaction time [C
RT]). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that faster reaction
time (RT) speed was associated with both younger age and better self-r
ated health. There were also significant interactions of Age by Self-R
ated Health and of Health Rating by Walking Activity for CRT, as well
as an interaction of Age by Walking Activity for both SRT and CRT. Exe
rcise and health may have an interactive effect on RT speed, and both
exercise and health may modify age-related changes in RT.