{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,26]],"date-time":"2026-06-26T17:55:55Z","timestamp":1782496555908,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]],"date-time":"2026-02-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770336000000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":5,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100019779","name":"Qatar National Library","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100019779","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004252","name":"Qatar University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004252","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,26]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study aims to investigate the association between physical fitness and markers of cognitive function in adults aged 40 and above in Qatar.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional study.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The Qatar Biobank, data of 1000 adults aged 40 and above.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Participants<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A population of 1000 adults aged 40 years and older was included. Available data comprised measures of physical fitness including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, body composition and physical fitness capacity, as well as cognitive function assessed through tests of short-term visual memory and psychomotor coordination.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Primary and secondary outcomes<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This paper investigated the physical fitness effect on cognitive functioning through short-term visual memory and psychomotor coordination testing. Logistic regression was used to measure the association between physical fitness and cognitive functioning tests.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Our study showed that lower physical fitness capacity was significantly associated with lower psychomotor coordination in females (OR=1.57, p=0.040) and showed no significant association in males (OR=1.65, p=0.062). For short-term visual memory, the association was significant in females (OR=1.68, p=0.042) unlike in males (OR=1.58, p=0.062). Males with greater muscle strength were about half as likely to have lower psychomotor coordination (OR=0.48, p=0.04). In females, a higher body fat percentage was associated with poorer cognitive function, with each 1% increase in body fat being linked to 6% higher odds of low short-term visual memory (p=0.02) and low psychomotor coordination (p=0.006). Cardiorespiratory fitness showed no statistically significant association with short-term visual memory and psychomotor coordination level in either sex.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Our findings suggest that overall physical fitness capacity is associated with better cognitive function in Qatari adults. The relationship between specific fitness measures and cognitive function varied by sex, with muscle strength having a stronger effect for males and body composition for females. These results highlight the potential importance of maintaining physical fitness for cognitive health in adulthood.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-113261","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]],"date-time":"2026-02-06T14:55:42Z","timestamp":1770389742000},"page":"e113261","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Physical fitness and cognitive function: a cross-sectional study among adults in Qatar"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Aya","family":"Alabdulrazzak","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tala","family":"Al-louzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6820-1090","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mhd Osama","family":"Rahhal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Al-Jouhara","family":"Albaloshi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Reema","family":"Al-Emadi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maytha","family":"Al Mohannadi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jwaher","family":"Abdulrahman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Habib","family":"Hasan Farooqui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shona","family":"Pedersen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rafif","family":"Mahmood Al Saady","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/21534764.2012.736204"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.2","unstructured":"Hospital, A.O.a.S.M . QATAR national physical activity guidelines. 2021."},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-015-2522-7","article-title":"The Qatar Biobank: background and methods","volume":"15","author":"Al Kuwari","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"287","DOI":"10.2147\/IJWH.S99943","article-title":"One-year assessment of physical activity level in adult Qatari females: a pedometer-based longitudinal study","volume":"8","author":"Sayegh","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int J Womens Health"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7369","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19127369","article-title":"Physical Activity and Its Barriers and Facilitators among University Students in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study","volume":"19","author":"Chaabna","year":"2022","journal-title":"IJERPH"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e1232","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(24)00150-5","article-title":"National, regional, and global trends in insufficient physical activity among adults from 2000 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 507 population-based surveys with 5\u00b77 million participants","volume":"12","author":"Strain","year":"2024","journal-title":"Lancet Glob Health"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nrn2298"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0000000000001936"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brainresrev.2006.01.002"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/JES.0b013e3182553430"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Galle SA , Deijen JB , Milders MV , et al . The effects of a moderate physical activity intervention on physical fitness and cognition in healthy elderly with low levels of physical activity: a randomized controlled trial. Alz Res Therapy 2023;15. doi:10.1186\/s13195-022-01123-3","DOI":"10.1186\/s13195-022-01123-3"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103498","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actpsy.2022.103498","article-title":"Effects of cognitive-motor dual task training on cognitive and physical performance in healthy children and adolescents: A scoping review","volume":"224","author":"Wollesen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Acta Psychol (Amst)"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2023.1134770","article-title":"Does physical fitness affect cognitive functions differently across adulthood? An advantage of being older","volume":"14","author":"Gajewski","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.14","unstructured":"dictionary, a.p.a., cogntive functioning. 2018."},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/20056429"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.16","unstructured":"Committee on Fitness . In: Pate R , Oria M , Pillsbury L , eds. Fitness measures and health outcomes in youth. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US), 2012."},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-003-0988-y"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ageing\/afr051"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"310","DOI":"10.1097\/MED.0000000000000360","article-title":"Current body composition measurement techniques","volume":"24","author":"Lemos","year":"2017","journal-title":"Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.20","unstructured":"Tanita body composition analyzer. 2025. Available: https:\/\/rimuhc.ca\/-\/tanita-body-composition-analyzer [Accessed 26 Jun 2025]."},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.21","unstructured":"Townsend N . Obesity. Churchill Livingstone, 2013:135."},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"849","DOI":"10.2147\/DMSO.S393282","article-title":"Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Decline in Cognitive Function: A Cross-Sectional Study - PubMed","volume":"16","author":"Alsuwaidi","year":"2023","journal-title":"DMSO"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2023.1103003","article-title":"Effects of physical activity on visuospatial working memory in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"14","author":"Zhu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Olivo G , Nilsson J , Garz\u00f3n B , et al . Higher VO2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adults. Sci Rep 2021;11. doi:10.1038\/s41598-021-96138-5","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-021-96138-5"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0242738","article-title":"Association between brain morphometry and aerobic fitness level and sex in healthy emerging adults","volume":"15","author":"Wade","year":"2020","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2022.833087","article-title":"The Relationship Between Muscle Strength and Cognitive Performance Across Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Clinical Continuum","volume":"13","author":"Filardi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Neurol"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sui SX , Holloway-Kew KL , Hyde NK , et al . Muscle strength and gait speed rather than lean mass are better indicators for poor cognitive function in older men. Sci Rep 2020;10. doi:10.1038\/s41598-020-67251-8","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-67251-8"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1289","DOI":"10.1111\/jgs.14787","article-title":"Cognitive Ability in Late Life and Onset of Physical Frailty: The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936","volume":"65","author":"Gale","year":"2017","journal-title":"J American Geriatrics Society"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Noh H-M , Oh S , Song HJ , et al . Relationships between cognitive function and body composition among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatr 2017;17. doi:10.1186\/s12877-017-0651-9","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-017-0651-9"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"519","DOI":"10.1093\/gerona\/gly046","article-title":"Associations Between Aging-Related Changes in Grip Strength and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review","volume":"74","author":"Zammit","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2024.1488375","article-title":"Muscle-brain crosstalk mediated by exercise-induced myokines - insights from experimental studies","volume":"15","author":"Kostka","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Physiol"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20021088","article-title":"The Effects of Exercise for Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials","volume":"20","author":"Xu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13072259","article-title":"The Role of BMI, Body Fat Mass and Visceral Fat in Executive Function in Individuals with Overweight and Obesity","volume":"13","author":"S\u00e1nchez-SanSegundo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Papachristou E , Ramsay SE , Lennon LT , et al . The relationships between body composition characteristics and cognitive functioning in a population-based sample of older British men. BMC Geriatr 2015;15. doi:10.1186\/s12877-015-0169-y","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-015-0169-y"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.35","first-page":"2019","article-title":"Associations of Cognitive Function with BMI, Body Fat Mass and Visceral Fat in Young Adulthood","volume":"55","author":"Huang","year":"2019","journal-title":"Medicina (Kaunas)"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1080\/10749357.2018.1443570","article-title":"A longitudinal study of computerized cognitive training in stroke patients - effects on cognitive function and white matter","volume":"25","author":"Nyberg","year":"2018","journal-title":"Top Stroke Rehabil"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Berbegal M , Tom\u00e9 M , S\u00e1nchez-SanSegundo M , et al . Memory function performance in individuals classified as overweight, obese, and normal weight. Front Nutr 2022;9. doi:10.3389\/fnut.2022.932323","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2022.932323"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1097\/MD.0000000000025027","article-title":"Associations between body composition and cognitive function in an elderly Korean population: A cohort-based cross-sectional study - PubMed","volume":"100","author":"Yun Kyung","year":"2021","journal-title":"Medicine (Baltimore)"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"989","DOI":"10.4236\/psych.2019.107065","article-title":"Effects of Basal Heart Rate on Memory with Interference among 832 Unselected Hypertensive Subjects from General Population","volume":"10","author":"Tikhonoff","year":"2019","journal-title":"PSYCH"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/hbm.20916"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mosconi L , Berti V , Dyke J , et al . Menopause impacts human brain structure, connectivity, energy metabolism, and amyloid-beta deposition. Sci Rep 2021;11. doi:10.1038\/s41598-021-90084-y","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-021-90084-y"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s13311-019-00766-9"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.43","unstructured":"James TT . Association between central adiposity and cognitive domain function in recently postmenopausal women: an analysis from the KEEPS-Cog substudy of the Kronos Early Estrogen Preventive Study. Menopause 2024."},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/s11892-018-1031-3","article-title":"Gender and Sex Differences in Adipose Tissue","volume":"18","author":"Chang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Curr Diab Rep"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Canon ME , E.M C . Sex Differences in the Association between Muscle Quality, Inflammatory Markers, and Cognitive Decline. Elsevier, 2011.","DOI":"10.1007\/s12603-011-0340-x"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.46","unstructured":"RM D . Grip strength across the life course: normative data from twelve British studies - PubMed. PLoS ONE 2024;9."},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2023.15231"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Melaku YA , Bassil M , Tayyem RFA , et al . The Impact of Unhealthy Lifestyle on the Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in the State of Qatar: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Am J Lifestyle Med 2025.:15598276251405214. doi:10.1177\/15598276251405214","DOI":"10.1177\/15598276251405214"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.49","unstructured":"R P OM , P L . Fitness measures and health outcomes in youth - pubmed. 2012."},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2310","DOI":"10.1111\/sms.14049","article-title":"How physical activity, fitness, and motor skills contribute to math performance: Working memory as a mediating factor","volume":"31","author":"Syv\u00e4oja","year":"2021","journal-title":"Scandinavian Med Sci Sports"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bento-Torres NVO , Bento-Torres J , Tom\u00e1s AM , et al . Influence of schooling and age on cognitive performance in healthy older adults. Braz J Med Biol Res 2017;50. doi:10.1590\/1414-431x20165892","DOI":"10.1590\/1414-431x20165892"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4423","DOI":"10.1039\/C9FO00913B","article-title":"Effect of Montmorency tart cherry juice on cognitive performance in older adults: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"10","author":"Chai","year":"2019","journal-title":"Food Funct"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291713002171"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7205\/MILMED.172.2.133"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1701","DOI":"10.1007\/s11739-023-03337-1","article-title":"Higher serum uric acid is associated with poorer cognitive performance in healthy middle-aged people: a cross-sectional study","volume":"18","author":"Khaled","year":"2023","journal-title":"Intern Emerg Med"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.3389\/fnagi.2020.00101","article-title":"Serum Magnesium and Cognitive Function Among Qatari Adults","volume":"12","author":"Al-Ghazali","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Aging Neurosci"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.3390\/life13010251","article-title":"Rice Intake Is Associated with Longer Reaction Time and Interacts with Blood Lipids and Hypertension among Qatari Adults","volume":"13","author":"Elrahmani","year":"2023","journal-title":"Life"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13103580","article-title":"Higher Habitual Nuts Consumption Is Associated with Better Cognitive Function among Qatari Adults","volume":"13","author":"Nafea","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"2026062610411925000_16.2.e113261.59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2016.00046","article-title":"The Cognitive Deficits Associated with Second-Hand Smoking","volume":"7","author":"Ling","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front Psychiatry"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-113261","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,26]],"date-time":"2026-06-26T17:43:58Z","timestamp":1782495838000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-113261"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]},"references-count":59,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-113261"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-113261","relation":{},"ISSN":["2044-6055","2044-6055"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2044-6055","type":"print"},{"value":"2044-6055","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]}}}