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We investigated the longitudinal associations of blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, and arterial stiffness among children. Arterial stiffening has been repeatedly shown to be a cardiovascular mortality predictor and can be observed early in childhood. As such, it is crucial to understand whether a child’s blood pressure, fitness level, and body composition can predict early signs of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffening. The current study examined the relationship between blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, and arterial stiffness over time in children, using data from the Physical and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study. It is a physical and dietary intervention study conducted in Kuopio, Finland. A total of 504 children participated at baseline, 277 adolescents participated at 8-year follow-up, and 201 adolescents were available for data analysis. The study measured blood pressure before and after a maximal exercise test on an ergometer. The exercise test increased in intensity until the participant reached exhaustion, and blood pressure was measured again after the test. Wave Velocity (PWV) was only measured at 8-years follow up. The main findings were that male adolescent (n=103) systolic blood pressure at rest in the supine position before to exercise, maximal workload during an exercise test, and systolic blood pressure immediately following exercise at baseline were significant predictors of pulse wave velocity in an 8-year follow-up (p

Purpose To investigate the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and arterial stiffness with cognition in 16‐ to 19‐year‐old adolescents. Methods Fifty four adolescents (35 girls; 19 boys) participated in the study. Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) and peak power output (Wmax) were measured by the maximal ramp test on a cycle ergometer and ventilatory threshold (VT) was determined with ventilation equivalents. Lean mass (LM) and body fat percentage (BF%) were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIx%) were measured by a non‐invasive oscillometric device. Working memory, short term memory, visual learning and memory, paired‐associate learning, attention, reaction time, and executive function were assessed by CogState tests. Results V̇O2peak/LM (β = 0.36 p = .011) and Wmax/LM (β = 0.30 p = .020) were positively associated with working memory. Wmax/LM was also positively associated with visual learning (β = 0.37, p = .009). V̇O2 at VT/LM was positively associated with working memory (β = 0.30 p = .016), visual learning (β = 0.31 p = .026), and associated learning (β = −0.27 p = .040). V̇O2 at VT as % of V̇O2peak, BF%, PWVao, and AIx% were not associated with cognition. Conclusion Cardiorespiratory fitness was related to better cognitive function, while BF% and arterial stiffness were not associated with cognition in adolescents., The evidence on the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and arterial stiffness with cognition in adolescents is still limited and the evidence is mainly based on data from studies using indirect measures of fitness instead of directly measured peak oxygen uptake. Furthermore, there are no previous studies on the associations of the ventilatory threshold, a widely recognized submaximal measure of fitness, with cognition.