IMPACT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN WOMEN WITH IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is associated with cognitive impairment in women, yet the potential role of physical activity (PA) in mitigating these deficits remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of physical activity on cognitive function among women with IDA. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 228 women aged 18–45 years diagnosed with IDA for at least six months to 1 year. Participants were categorized into Inactive, Moderate, and Active groups based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-Long Form. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Version 8.1. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests, MANOVA, and one-way ANOVAs, were used to evaluate the association between physical activity levels and cognitive performance. Results: The mean age of participants was 27.57 ± 7.50 years, with a mean BMI of 23.28 ± 2.92 kg/m². Physical activity was significantly associated with global cognitive performance (χ² (6, N = 228) = 178.24, p < .001). The Active group exhibited the highest proportion of normal cognition (54.2%), while the Inactive group had the greatest prevalence of moderate (89.4%) and severe (100%) cognitive impairment. Significant differences were observed across multiple cognitive domains, including Attention, Orientation, Naming, Language Abstraction and Delayed Recall (p< .001), whereas Visuospatial/Executive function did not differ significantly between both groups. Conclusion: Higher physical activity levels are strongly associated with better cognitive performance in women with IDA, suggesting that regular physical activity may act as a protective factor against cognitive decline. While causality cannot be confirmed due to the cross-sectional design, these findings support the integration of physical activity into holistic management strategies for women with IDA. Future longitudinal and interventional studies are recommended to establish causal relationships, optimize exercise interventions, and explore underlying physiological mechanisms