Figure 1.

Longitudinal change in performance on the Blessed Information–Memory–Concentration (I–M–C) Test, Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT), and California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT; immediate free recall and learning slope) as a function of baseline symptom-limited maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max; mL O₂/kg/min). For the Blessed I–M–C Test and BVRT, worse performance is indicated by increasing scores over time, whereas for the CVLT measures, worse performance is indicated by decreasing scores over time. Covariates included age, sex, race, education, body mass index, hypertension, antihypertensives, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disease, and depressive symptoms. Graphs were generated using predicted scores associated with mean VO₂max ±1 SD.