Primitive Reflexes Predict Cognitive Functioning and Psychological Resilience in Older Adults: Physical Activity Mediates the Relationship

Abstract

While physical activity (PA) is associated with cognitive benefits (COG) and psychological resilience (RES) in older adults, the reemergence of primitive reflexes (PRs) has been linked to cognitive dysfunction in this population. The antagonistic action of PA and PRs on COG and RES has not been studied despite the former’s capacity in preventing or delaying mental impairment in later years. Therefore, we examined the relationships between these measures in 115 healthy older adults over 60 (Mage=75.9 years; ±SD = 7.03; 23.5% men) whose right and left total PRs were assessed based on 13 indices, while PA, COG, and RES were measured with questionnaires. Of the 13 PRs, we found only one statistically significant correlation with age. The total right-body-side PRs were also weakly positively (R2=0.066) associated with age. However, hierarchical linear regressions indicated that the right-body-side PRs explained over 40% of the variance in COG and over 50% in RES. Mediation analyses suggested that PA could statistically account for part of the association between PRs and both cognitive functioning and psychological resilience. Therefore, the results should motivate future research to better understand PA’s positive effects on COG and RES in older adults, possibly via the downregulation of PRs negative effects.