Table 2

Comparing the relationship between different life course models of physical activity with cognitive function at age 69

Physical activity life course model	ACE-III, age 69		Word learning test, age 69		Visual search speed, age 69
Physical activity life course model	f	P value	f	P value	f	P value
Saturated model	Reference		Reference		Reference
No effect	12.42	<0.01	13.11	<0.01	2.61	<0.01
Accumulation	1.41	0.21	0.55	0.77	1.79	0.11
Sensitive period 1 (ages 36–43)	10.70	<0.01	10.05	<0.01	2.70	<0.01
Sensitive period 2 (age 53)	3.37	<0.01	6.31	<0.01	2.51	0.02
Sensitive period 3 (ages 60–69)	8.60	<0.01	6.92	<0.01	1.92	0.07
Best model*	Accumulation		Accumulation		Accumulation

All models are adjusted for sex.
Categories at three age spans were chosen to represent physical activity in the life course and expressed in binary form (inactive vs moderately/most active). The ‘saturated model’ is the most complicated model that contains all parameters.
*Higher (less significant) p values indicate that the life course model assessed fits the data as well as the reference model; The lower the f value, the better the model fit.
ACE-III, Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination.