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This study systematically reviewed the relevant studies and summarized the associations of objective measures of residential neighborhood built-environment attributes with sedentary time among adults. Published studies were obtained from PubMed and Scopus, restricting to those published in English language peer-reviewed journals to Oct. 2021. There were nine studies and 48 instances of estimated associations. Most instances showed no statistical-significant associations; by contrast, few instances showed that adults living in a neighborhood characterized by a high density of local destinations and connected intersections were associated with less sedentary time. The findings suggest that a high density of destinations and street intersections around residence may provide opportunities to transfer and access to services, thus reducing the sedentary time. Future research strengthening the research design and measurements are needed to investigate the potential explanations of the associations between residential neighborhood built environments and sedentary time in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of acute aerobic exercise on sustained attention and discriminatory ability of children with and without learning disabilities (LD). Fifty-one children with LD and 49 typically developing children were randomly assigned to exercise or control groups. The participants in the exercise groups performed a 30-min session of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, whereas the control groups watched a running/exercise-related video. Neuropsychological tasks, the Daueraufmerksamkeit sustained attention test, and the determination tests were assessed before and after each treatment. Exercise significantly benefited performance in sustained attention and discriminatory ability, particularly in higher accuracy rate and shorter reaction time. In addition, the LD exercise group demonstrated greater improvement than the typically developing exercise group. The findings suggest that the acute aerobic exercise influenced the sustained attention and the discriminatory function in children with LD by enhancing regulation of mental states and allocation of attentional resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the association between 15 min of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and subsequent muscle strength and balance in older adults. Data concerning community-dwelling older Taiwanese adults (mean age, 69.5 years) were collected during the baseline period (2018) and at a 12-month follow-up survey (2019). Time spent performing MVPA was objectively assessed using a triaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph wGT3x-BT) at baseline. Upper and lower limb muscle strength were measured using handgrip strength and a five-times sit-to-stand test, respectively. Balance was assessed using a one-leg standing test. The 12-month variations in muscle strength and balance were calculated through subtracting follow-up data from baseline data. A forced entry-adjusted logistic regression analysis was conducted. In total, 65.2% of participants engaged in at least 15 min of daily MVPA in the baseline survey. After adjusting for confounders, older adults who achieved 15 min of daily MVPA during the baseline period were more likely to maintain or improve balance performance (odds ratio, 8.12). Performing 15 min of daily MVPA was found to benefit older adults' subsequent balance performance but not muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the sustained effects of acute resistance exercise on inhibitory function in healthy middle-aged adults. Seventy healthy middle-aged adults (mean age = 46.98 ± 5.70 years) were randomly assigned to exercise or control groups, and the Stroop test was administered before, immediately after, and 40 min after exercise. The resistance exercise protocol involved two sets of seven exercises performed for a maximum of 10 repetitions, with 60 s between sets and exercises. Acute resistance exercise resulted in higher Stroop test performance under the incongruent (inhibition) and interference conditions immediately post-exercise and 40 min post-exercise. Furthermore, the difference in scores after 40 min was significant. The findings indicate that a moderately intensive acute resistance exercise could facilitate Stroop performance and has a more beneficial effect on sustaining of cognition that involves executive control at least 40 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives this study investigated the prospective associations of accelerometer assessed daily steps with subsequent depressive symptoms in older adults. Methods a 2-year prospective study was performed in the community. A total of 285 older adults ≥65 years (mean age = 74.5) attended the baseline assessment in 2012. The second wave of assessment was carried out in 2014 including 274 (96.1%) participants. Daily step counts were measured with a triaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+), and participants were divided into three categories (<3,500, 3,500–6,999 and ≥ 7,000 steps/day). The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms. Negative binomial regression models with multivariable adjustment for covariates (baseline depressive symptoms, accelerometer wear time, age, gender, education, chronic disease, activities of daily living) were conducted to examine the association between daily steps and subsequent depressive symptoms. Results each 1,000-step increase in daily walking was linearly associated with a reduced rate of subsequent depressive symptoms (rate ratio [RR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.92–0.98). Participants with daily step count in 3,500–6,999 (RR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.70–0.99) and ≥7,000 steps (RR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.55–0.92) per day had fewer depressive symptoms at follow-up. Sensitivity analyses assessing confounding and reverse causation provided further support for the stability of our findings. Conclusion older adults engaging in more daily steps had fewer depressive symptoms after 2 years. Even as few as 3,500–6,999 steps a day was associated with a protecting effect. Accumulating ≥7,000 steps a day could provide the greatest protection against depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The association of light‐intensity physical activity (LPA) with mortality is poorly understood. This meta‐analysis of cohort studies aimed to examine the dose‐response relationships between daily device‐measured LPA and mortality in adults aged 18 or older and to explore whether the associations were independent of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Methods: Searches for prospective cohort studies providing effect estimates of daily LPA (exposure) on all‐cause mortality (outcome) were systematically undertaken in electronic databases up to April 30, 2019. Subgroup analyses and meta‐regression analyses with random‐effects models were performed to quantify the dose‐response relationships between daily LPA and mortality. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted to assess the stability of the results. Results: A total of 11 studies were included in the meta‐analysis. Analyses contained 49 239 individuals (mean age 60.7, SD = 13.6) who were followed up for a mean 6.2 years (2.3‐14.2 years), during which 3669 (7.5%) died. In comparison with the reference group (<3 h/d), the pooled HRs (and 95% CIs) of mortality were 0.71 (0.62‐0.82), 0.68 (0.59‐0.79), 0.56 (0.44‐0.71) for groups 3 to <5 h/d, 5 to <7 h/d, and more than 7 hours a day LPA, respectively. Meta‐regression models indicated that there was a log‐cubic dose‐response relationship between daily LPA and mortality in adults and older people, independent of MVPA. Conclusions: Time spent in daily LPA was associated with reduced risks of mortality in adults and older people. These data support the inclusion of LPA in the future physical activity guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A limited number of studies have used objective measures to examine the associations between the built environment and physical activity (PA) among older adults. This study aimed to examine geographic information systems-derived neighborhood walkability attributes and accelerometer measured PA in older adults. Data were collected from 124 older Taiwanese adults aged over 60 years (mean age: 69.9). Adjusted multiple linear regression was performed to explore the associations between five neighborhood walkability factors (population density, street connectivity, sidewalk availability, access to destinations, and public transportation) and five metrics of accelerometer-measured physical activity (total PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA, light PA, long moderate-to-vigorous PA bouts, and daily step counts). After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that greater sidewalk availability was positively associated with daily step counts in older adults (β = 0.165; 95% confidence interval: 0.006, 0.412; P = 0.043). No associations between other neighborhood environment attributes and PA metrics were observed. In conclusion, high sidewalk availability in the neighborhood may be supportive for older adults’ daily step counts. Further longitudinal research is needed to establish the causality between the built environment and objectively measured PA in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined the prevalence of dog ownership and dog walking and its association with leisure-time walking among metropolitan and nonmetropolitan older adults.Methods: A telephone-based cross-sectional survey targeting Taiwanese older adults was conducted in November 2016. Data related to dog ownership, time spent dog walking (categorized as non-dog owner, non-dog walkers, and dog walkers), and sociodemographic variables were obtained from 1074 older adults. Adjusted binary logistic regression was then performed.Results: In this sample, 12% of Taiwanese older adults owned a dog and 31% of them walked their dogs for an average of 232.13 min over 5.9 days/week (standard deviation = 2.03). Older adults living in nonmetropolitan areas were more likely to own a dog (14.7% vs. 9.1%) but less likely to walk their dog (25.9% vs. 39.6%) than were those living in metropolitan areas. Compared with non-dog owners, only older adults living in nonmetropolitan areas who were dog walkers achieved 150 min of leisure-time walking (odds ratio: 3.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-8.77), after adjustment for potential confounders.Conclusion: Older Taiwanese adults living in nonmetropolitan areas who owned and walked their dogs were more likely to achieve health-enhancing levels of leisure-time walking. Tailored physical activity interventions for promoting dog walking should be developed for older adults who are dog owners living in nonmetropolitan areas and who do not engage in dog walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated associations of perceived environmental factors with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and screen time (ST) among older adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted by administering computer-assisted telephone interviews to 1028 older Taiwanese adults in November 2016. Data on personal factors, perceived environmental factors, LTPA, and ST were included. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to examine associations of environmental perception with LTPA and ST by using logistic regression analyses. The results showed that after adjusting for potential confounders, older adults who perceived their neighborhood with good access to shops (AS) and to public transportation (AT) were more likely to have sufficient LTPA (AS: OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.16-2.32; AT: OR = 1.43; 95% CI, 1.00-2.03) and less likely to have excessive ST (AS: OR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.50-0.97; AT: OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.46-0.90). Different perceived environmental factors were also associated with LTPA and ST, respectively. This study highlights environment perception as a crucial factor for LTPA and ST. These findings suggest that policy makers and physical activity intervention designers should develop both common and individual environmental strategies to improve and increase awareness of the neighborhood environment to promote LTPA and reduce ST among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors convey their response to a feedback about their report on duplicate study effects. Topics mentioned include the exclusion of all the study effects from potentially duplicate studies, the decision on which study is the original, main, or best fit to answer, and the relationships of time spent in objectively measured light-intensity physical activity with all-cause mortality assessed.

Studies have indicated that sufficient physical activity levels and balanced dietary behavior are independently related to physical function in older populations; however, their joint association with physical function remain unclear. This study examined the independent and combined associations of sufficient physical activity and balanced selection of foods with lower limb strength among 122 older Taiwanese adults living in community (mean age: 69.9 ± 5.0 years). The assessments included accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and self-reported selection of foods. Lower limb strength performance was measured using the five times sit-to-stand test. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the associations in question before and after adjusting for potential confounders. The results showed that in the adjusted model, lower limb strength had no significant independent association with either meeting the recommended level of MVPA or balanced selection of foods. Compared to older adults who neither met the recommended MVPA level nor reported a balanced selection of foods, those who conformed to both these criteria were more likely to have better lower limb strength (odds ratio = 6.28, 95% confidence interval = 1.36–29.01) after adjusting for covariates. Health promotion initiatives addressing disability prevention for older adults need to consider promoting both MVPA and food selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited evidence for the associations of area-level crime with older adults' physical activity and sedentary behavior, especially in Asia. This study explored the association of area-level crime with older adults' active and sedentary behavior. A telephone-based survey of Taiwanese seniors was conducted in September–November of 2017. Data related to sociodemographic factors, residential neighborhood (objectively recorded area-level crime incidence), and time spent in physical activity and sedentary behavior, were obtained from 1068 older adults. Adjusted binary logistic regression was analyzed. Fully adjusted analyses showed older adults living in neighborhoods with a higher incidence of drug crime (odds ratio, OR = 0.71, 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.52–0.96), car theft (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.51–0.95), and locomotive theft (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.51–0.94) were found to be less likely to achieve the recommendation on physical activity. In addition, those living in neighborhoods with a higher incidence of theft (OR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.05–3.55), drug crime (OR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.05–3.55), breaking and entering (OR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.11–3.76), and rape (OR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.20–4.06) were more likely to have more sedentary time. There were sex differences in the association of area-level crime incidence with physical activity and sedentary behavior. These findings suggest that crime prevention should be considered when designing physical activity and sedentary behavior interventions for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the shape of the dose-response association between objectively-assessed daily sedentary time (ST) and all-cause mortality, and to explore whether there is a threshold of ST above which there is an increase in mortality risk in older adults. Methods: Searches for prospective cohort studies providing effect estimates of daily ST (exposure) on all-cause mortality (outcome) were undertaken in five databases up to 31 March 2019. A random-effects meta-regression model was conducted to quantify the dose-response relationship between daily ST and all-cause mortality. Sensitivity analyses were also performed to test the stability of the results. Results: Our analysis of pooled data from 11 eligible studies did not reveal a consistent shape of association between ST and mortality. After excluding three studies with potential confounding bias, there was a log-linear dose-response relationship between daily ST and all-cause mortality. Overall, higher amounts of time spent in sedentary behaviors were associated with elevated mortality risks in older adults. Visual assessments of dose-response relationships based on meta-regression analyses indicated that increased mortality risks became significant when total ST exceeded approximately 9 h/day. Conclusions: Based on a limited number of studies, this meta-analysis provides a starting point for considering a cut-off of daily sedentary time, suggesting older adults spend less time in daily sitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigates how 24-hour movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary time, sleep) relate to cognitive performance in older adults., Methods: 213 adults (aged 65+) wore accelerometers to track activity. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Isotemporal substitution analysis examined how replacing one behavior with another affected cognition., Results: Increased light physical activity was linked to better cognitive function, whereas longer sleep had a negative impact. Replacing 30 min of sedentary behavior or sleep with light physical activity improved orientation, attention, language, and short-term memory. Substituting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity did not have the same cognitive benefit., Conclusion: Encouraging older adults to replace sedentary time or excess sleep with light physical activity could support cognitive health and potentially help prevent dementia. These findings have implications for public health strategies promoting cognitive well-being in aging populations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: This study examined the effects of coordinative exercise on children's sustained attention and perceptual discrimination in a school-based physical education (SBPE) setting. Methods: Seventy-three children received an intervention of moderate-to-vigorous intensity coordinative exercise, and 75 children participated in a moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity as part of a regular physical education class. Two neuropsychological tests of executive function (EF) were used to assess attention and perceptual discrimination functions before and after each treatment. Results: The results found that coordinative exercise significantly improved the performances on sustained attention and perceptual discrimination, as evidenced by enhanced response accuracy and improved speed of responding. Specifically, higher progressions in task performance were seen following coordinative exercise relative to regular physical activity. Conclusion: These findings suggest that coordinative exercise could enable more robust improvements in sustained attention and perceptual discrimination among children. Overall, we conclude that structured coordinative exercise, implemented in SBPE settings, may be a promising alternative to promote children's cognitive abilities.

Background: The impact of meeting leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) recommendations and household physical activity (HPA) on all-cause mortality in the Taiwanese population is unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between sufficient LTPA and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older Taiwanese adults and the role of HPA in those with insufficient LTPA., Methods: This nationwide prospective cohort study included 4,960 participants aged ≥50 years from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging (TLSA) survey. Physical activity patterns were assessed in 2003 and then followed up until 2015 for mortality through the National Death Registration Record. Cox proportional hazards regression was conducted to evaluate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality., Results: Of the 4,960 participants, 1,712 died of all-cause mortality. Compared to those who had insufficient LTPA, participants who engaged in sufficient LTPA showed a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.84, 95% CI, 0.73-0.97). For those with insufficient LTPA, HPA also had a significantly reduced risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.85, 95% CI, 0.75-0.96) among general population. Similar associations were observed in subsequent sensitivity analyses. The subgroup analysis showed that the relationship between HPA and reduced mortality risk was only found in the women with insufficient LTPA group., Conclusion: This study confirmed that sufficient LTPA is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. If sufficient LTPA cannot be performed, additional HPA is related to lower mortality.

Introduction: Several studies have suggested that physical activity and sedentary behavior are strongly and independently associated with body composition and obesity. However, few studies have investigated whether substituting sedentary time with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with body composition in older adults, especially among those older than 75 years., Methods: This study examined the associations between replacing sedentary time with physical activity and obesity indices in a sample of 199 community-dwelling older Taiwanese adults (52.3% women; 80.6 ± 7.0 years). Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured using the triaxial accelerometer (GT3X+, ActiGraph). Body composition indices were computed through a bioelectrical impedance analysis of body fat percentage and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index. Waist circumference and body mass index were measured by trained personnel. Isotemporal substitution analyses estimated these associations after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status., Results: The study showed that substituting 30 min of sedentary behavior per day with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with lower body fat percentage (B = -1.408, 95% CI = -2.55, -0.264), body mass index (B = -0.681, 95% CI = -1.300, -0.061), and waist circumference (B = -2.301, 95% CI = -4.062, -0.539) after adjusting for covariates. Substituting 30 min of light physical activity per day with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with lower waist circumference (B = -2.230, 95% CI = -4.173, -0.287) after adjusting for covariates. Stratified analyses indicated that associations were stronger in youngest-old older adults, and in older adults with a normal nutritional status (vs. underweight status)., Discussion: These findings confirm the importance of reducing sedentary behavior and increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among older adults to improve their physical health, as well as highlighting the importance of taking into account nutritional status and age group., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Lai, Liao, Hsueh, Yen, Park and Chang.)

Study Objectives: Despite considering it as a common geriatric condition, sarcopenia is linked to various behavioral factors that may be changeable. As sleep is one of the important routines in physiological homeostasis, further investigating the underlying relationships of sleep behavior with sarcopenia is urgently needed. We examined the association between sleep parameters (ie, sleep duration, bedtime, wake time, or midsleep time) and sarcopenia risks in older adults, in the total sample and age group subsamples., Methods: A total of 1,068 older adults in Taiwan were included. Data on bedtime, wake time, and sleep duration were collected through telephone interview. Midsleep time was calculated by the midpoint of bedtime and wake time. Sarcopenia was screened by the SARC-F questionnaire composed of 5 questions (the strength, assistance in walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls) as well as higher scores was related to greater risks. Generalized additive models were conducted to examine the nonlinear relationships between sleep parameters and sarcopenia risks., Results: The covariate-adjusted analysis showed that a reverse J-shaped relationship for sleep duration and sarcopenia risk ( P < .001) and a significant association for wake time and the SARC-F score ( P  = .009) in total sample, with considering age-related interaction. No associations were found in the other sleep parameters (bedtime and midsleep time) and sarcopenia in older adults. Similar associations were observed between wake time and the SARC-F score across age groups, while diverse associations of sleep duration with the SARC-F score were found in different age groups., Conclusions: The sleep pattern is significantly associated with sarcopenia risks in aging adults. Improving inappropriate sleep behaviors in older adults is suggested to prevent a decline in muscle function and promote healthy aging., Citation: Huang W-C, Lin C-Y, Togo F, et al. Nonlinear associations between sleep patterns and sarcopenia risks in older adults. J Clin Sleep Med . 2022;18(3):731-738., (© 2022 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Facebook remote live-streaming-guided exercise on the functional fitness of community-dwelling older adults. Method: This study used a non-randomized controlled design with single-blinding (outcome assessors). Older adults (mean age = 70.36 ± 4.51 years) were assigned to either the experimental group ( n = 39) or the control group ( n = 34). The experimental group participated in a 75-min Facebook remote live-streaming-guided exercise routine twice a week for 8 weeks at home, whereas the control group maintained their original lifestyle without any intervention. Functional fitness was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test, which assessed upper and lower limb flexibility and muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and balance. The test was administered before and after the intervention. Results: The results revealed that an 8-week Facebook remote live-streaming-guided exercise intervention increased lower limb flexibility and muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in community-dwelling older adults. Conclusion: The current findings suggest that a home-based exercise program using the Facebook platform may be a feasible method to broadly improve the functional fitness of community-dwelling older adults., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Chang, Wang, Chueh, Hsueh, Hung and Wang.)

Purpose: Sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity are the components of the 24-hour model, while the timing of sleep may play a critical role to impact waking behaviors. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the relationship of sleep timing with sedentary behavior, light-intensity, moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity, and daily steps in older women., Patients and Methods: A total of 90 community-dwelling older women (70.5 ± 5.4 years) were included in our sample. Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the associations of accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior and physical activity metrics with the three sleep timing indicators (bedtime and wake time, and mid-sleep time). Bedtime and wake time were recorded by the participants, and mid-sleep time was estimated based on the two sleep indicators., Results: Most indicators of sleep timing were negatively associated with moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (unstandardized coefficient [B]-0.07 for bedtime and mid-sleep time, p<0.05) and daily steps (B ranged from -15.51 for bedtime to -13.73 for wake time, p<0.05). No associations of sleep timing were found in sedentary behavior and light-intensity physical activity., Conclusion: The findings suggest that sleep timing should be considered when designing promising strategies or interventions for older women to be physically active., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work. There is no financial interest regarding this research nor is there any other conflict of interest., (© 2021 Huang et al.)

Study Objectives: The aim of this research was to investigate the relationships between objectively measured sleep duration and physical function in older adults., Methods: We recruited community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 60 years old in Taipei City, Taiwan. Sleep duration was measured with accelerometers and recorded as the total hours of sleep per night for each participant. The following physical functions were assessed: 1) grip strength (measured by handgrip dynamometer), 2) balance (1-leg standing test), 3) lower body strength (5-timed chair stand), 4) basic mobility (timed up and go test), 5) gait speed (5-m walk test). The relationships between sleep duration and physical function outcomes were analyzed using generalized additive models, controlling for objectively measured sedentary behavior and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and other sociodemographic variables., Results: A total of 121 older adults (men = 28.9%; mean age = 70.0 ± 5.0 years) was included in this study. A positive association of sleep duration with grip strength was found after adjusting for covariates (P = .005). No significant associations were observed between sleep duration and the other physical function outcomes., Conclusions: For older adults, lengthening their sleep duration may be helpful to enhance the grip strength. This result has implications for improving their health by targeting better performance in specific physical functions. Further studies of sleep duration and physical function among older adults should investigate the underlying mechanisms., (© 2021 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

Background: We examined the relationships between objectively assessed neighborhood environment and the patterns of sedentary behavior among older adults. Methods: A total of 126 community-dwelling older adults (aged 65 years or above) were recruited. Data on neighborhood environmental attributes (resident density, street intersection density, sidewalk availability, accessible destinations, and accessible public transportation), accelerometer-assessed total time and patterns of sedentary behavior (number and duration of bouts), and sociodemographic characteristics were collected. Multiple linear regression models were developed. Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, greater sidewalk availability was negatively related to the number of sedentary bouts (β = -0.185; 95% CI: -0.362, 0.015; p = 0.034) and sedentary bout duration (β = -0.180; 95% CI: -0.354, -0.011; p = 0.037). Conclusions: This study revealed that a favorable neighborhood environment characterized by sidewalk availability is negatively associated with sedentary behavior patterns in Taiwanese older adults. These findings are critical to inform environmental policy initiatives to prevent sedentary lifestyle in older adults., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Chang, Rutherford, Hsueh, Yu, Park, Wang and Liao.)

Objectives: To objectively assess light physical activity (PA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), step counts and number of 10 min MVPA bouts and their association with physical function among older adults., Design: Cross-sectional design., Setting: Urban community setting in Taiwan., Participants: 127 Taiwanese older adults aged over 65 years (mean age=70.8±5.3 years; 72% women)., Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: Triaxial accelerometers were used to measure PA variables for 10 hours/day for seven consecutive days. Then, five physical function components (handgrip strength, single-leg stance, 5-metre walk speed, timed up and go and sit-to-stand test) were measured. Multiple linear regressions were used to perform separate analyses for older men and women., Results: For older women, daily MVPA time (β: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.64; p=0.004), daily step counts (β: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.78; p=0.009) and number of 10 min MVPA bouts (β: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.001, 0.53; p=0.049) were positively associated with handgrip strength after adjusting for accelerometer wear time, sedentary time and other confounders. Furthermore, daily MVPA time was positively associated with a single-leg stance (β: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.49; p=0.036) and higher daily step counts were associated with shorter walking speed performance (β: -0.31, 95% CI: -0.57, -0.001; p=0.049). None of the variables of the objectively assessed PA patterns was associated with physical function outcomes among older men due to their small sample size., Conclusions: Daily MVPA, MVPA bouts of at least 10 min and accumulated daily steps are important for improving physical function among older women. Future prospective research should establish causal associations between PA patterns and functional ability among older adults., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Few studies on older populations consider several energy balance-related behaviors together. This cross-sectional study compared subjectively and objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) patterns between older adults with and without a healthy diet. We recruited 127 community-dwelling older Taiwanese adults (69.9 ± 5.0 years); data were collected during April and September 2018. Objectively measured total PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA, light PA, step count, total sedentary time, duration of sedentary bouts, number of sedentary bouts, and number of sedentary breaks were assessed using activity monitors. Subjectively measured PA and SB were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire for Older Adults. Chi-square tests and independent sample t-tests were performed. For subjective measures, older adults without a healthy diet spent significantly less total leisure time on PA and more leisure sitting time than those with a healthy diet. For objective measures, older adults without a healthy diet spent less time on light PA and had a higher total sedentary time, duration of sedentary bouts, times of sedentary bouts, and times of sedentary breaks than those with a healthy diet. Regardless of the use of objective or subjective measurements, older adults without a healthy diet engaged in a more inactive and sedentary lifestyle. These findings have implications for health promotion practitioners in designing tailored interventions.

This study examines the cross-sectional associations between personal and perceived neighborhood environment attributes regarding walking for recreation and transportation among older Taiwanese adults. Data related to personal factors, perceived environmental factors, and time spent engaging in transportation-related and recreational walking were obtained from 1032 older adults aged 65 years and above. The data were analyzed by carrying out an adjusted binary logistic regression. After adjusting for potential confounders, two commonly perceived environmental factors, the presence of sidewalks (PS) and the presence of a destination (PD), were positively associated with 150 min of walking for recreation. Different personal and perceived environmental factors were associated with walking for recreation and transportation. These findings suggest that policy-makers and physical activity intervention designers should develop both common and individual environmental strategies in order to improve and increase awareness of the neighborhood environment to promote recreational and transportation walking behaviors among older adults., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

This study examined the associations between perceived neighborhood and home environmental factors and excessive television (TV) viewing time among Taiwanese older adults. The sample data was collected by administering computer-assisted telephone interviewers to 980 Taiwanese older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) living in two regions. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to examine the associations between self-reported perceived neighborhood and home environmental attributions and TV viewing time by using logistic regression analyses. The results showed that perceived neighborhood and home environmental factors were associated with excessive TV viewing time (≥2 h/day) after adjusting for potential confounders. Compared with a reference group, older adults who perceived their neighborhoods to have unsafe traffic were more likely to report excessive TV viewing time (OR = 1.36, 95%CI = 1.02-1.82). Older adults who reported having two or more TV sets in the home (OR = 1.77, CI = 1.28-2.44) and having a TV in the bedroom (OR = 1.55, CI = 1.18-2.03) were also more likely to report excessive TV viewing time. Further longitudinal research can confirm these findings, and tailored interventions focusing on the perceptions of neighborhood traffic safety and TV access at home for older adults might be effective means of preventing excessive TV viewing time.