Physical fitness, cognitive function, and health-related quality of life in older adults

It has been suggested that physical and cognitive functions are associated with health-related quality of life (HRQL). Previous work examining the rel ationship between physical ability and HRQL is equivocal, and information a bout cognitive function in relation to HRQL is largely restricted to people with cognitive impairments. We investigated the relationships of physical ability and cognitive performance to HRQL in 44 older adults (72-93 years). The results suggest significant relationships between the endurance item o f the AAHPERD test and the physical mobility and pain components of HRQL an d between AAHPERD agility scores and the physical mobility component of HRQ L. Visual simple-reaction time and the backward digit-span memory test were found to be related to physical mobility. The subject-performed-tasks memo ry test was related to the social component of HRQL. These data support the use of the AAHPERD test for characterizing physical ability of older adult s as it relates to HRQL and identify specific cognitive support measures th at reflect the relationship between cognition and HRQL in older adults.