2022 International Conference on Aging in the Americas

Abstract

Mexican Americans who engaged in regular physical activity demonstrate a lower cognitive decline that their inactive counterparts. While interventions show promise at improving physical activity engagement and cognition in older Mexican Americans, few, if any have been tested on U.S.-Mexico border populations. This is an important are of research as the U.S.-Mexico border region has the highest concentration of Mexican Americans in the United States. Methods: Pasos Para Prevenir is a healthy eating and active living lifestyle program to prevent cancer an associated co-morbidities in El Paso County, Texas. Participants were recruited from senior centers, recreation centers, schools, businesses and community centers. Participants received between 1 to 5 sessions on obesity, physical activity and nutrition. Data was collected at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Measures of obesity and demographics were also collected and analyzed. Results: Participants who were older adults were less likely to meet physical activity guidelines at baseline compared to their younger counterparts. However, this difference became insignificant post-intervention at 6-months and 12-months. Participants who benefited the most from the intervention were those with less than a high school education, born in Mexico and spoke Spanish in the home. Discussion: Pasos Para Prevenir participation was associated with improvements in physical activity engagement among older Mexican Americans. Lifestyle interventions to improve physical activity engagement could be an effect strategy to reduce cognitive decline among older Mexican Americans living on the U.S.-Mexico border.