The Walking Ability in Healthy Older Adults: The Role of Aging and Physical Activity and Its Interface with Agility, Balance, Cognition, and Risk of Falls

Author(s):  
Emerson Sebastião ◽  
Flávia Gomes de Melo Coelho ◽  
Carla Manuela Crispim Nascimento ◽  
Larissa Pires de Andrade ◽  
Jessica Rodrigues Pereira ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonna Nilsson ◽  
Maria Ekblom ◽  
Olga Tarassova ◽  
Martin Lövdén

This project concerns new analyses based on pre-existing data from a randomized controlled multicomponent intervention study combining physical exercise and cognitive training in healthy older adults. The project tests the predictive role of cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity and pulse pressure for learning in a working memory training context, in combination with physical exercise and in isolation. Specifically, two learning outcomes are considered: change in trained working memory tasks from before to after the intervention period (pre-post change) and day-by-day change in n-back performance during the intervention period (up to 32 timepoints). The results did not support a predictive role of cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity or pulse pressure for learning in this particular study context. Please note that this document is intended solely as a report of the results pertaining to the registered hypotheses on Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/h5npm), simply to ensure transparency also of the null findings. As such, this document is not intended for formal peer-review or publication. If you are interested in the results, please do not hesitate to contact the author of this document ([email protected]).


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1877
Author(s):  
Rieke Trumpf ◽  
Wiebren Zijlstra ◽  
Peter Haussermann ◽  
Tim Fleiner

Applicable and accurate assessment methods are required for a clinically relevant quantification of habitual physical activity (PA) levels and sedentariness in older adults. The aim of this study is to compare habitual PA and sedentariness, as assessed with (1) a wrist-worn actigraph, (2) a hybrid motion sensor attached to the lower back, and (3) a self-estimation based on a questionnaire. Over the course of one week, PA of 58 community-dwelling subjectively healthy older adults was recorded. The results indicate that actigraphy overestimates the PA levels in older adults, whereas sedentariness is underestimated when compared to the hybrid motion sensor approach. Significantly longer durations (hh:mm/day) for all PA intensities were assessed with the actigraph (light: 04:19; moderate to vigorous: 05:08) when compared to the durations (hh:mm/day) that were assessed with the hybrid motion sensor (light: 01:24; moderate to vigorous: 02:21) and the self-estimated durations (hh:mm/day) (light: 02:33; moderate to vigorous: 03:04). Actigraphy-assessed durations of sedentariness (14:32 hh:mm/day) were significantly shorter when compared to the durations assessed with the hybrid motion sensor (20:15 hh:mm/day). Self-estimated duration of light intensity was significantly shorter when compared to the results of the hybrid motion sensor. The results of the present study highlight the importance of an accurate quantification of habitual PA levels and sedentariness in older adults. The use of hybrid motion sensors can offer important insights into the PA levels and PA types (e.g., sitting, lying) and it can increase the knowledge about mobility-related PA and patterns of sedentariness, while actigraphy appears to be not recommendable for this purpose.


Sports ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuko Hongu ◽  
Mieko Shimada ◽  
Rieko Miyake ◽  
Yusuke Nakajima ◽  
Ichirou Nakajima ◽  
...  

Stair climbing provides a feasible opportunity for increasing physical activity (PA) in daily living. The purpose of this study was to examine the daily walking and stair-climbing steps among healthy older adults (age: 74.0 ± 4.9 years; Body Mass Index (BMI): 22.3 ± 2.5 kg/m2). Participants (34 females and 15 males) attended a weekly 6-month community-based PA program. During the entire program period, daily walking and stair-climbing steps were recorded using a pedometer (Omron, HJA-403C, Kyoto, Japan). Before and after the 6-month program, height, body weight and leg muscle strength were assessed. After the 6-month program, the mean walking and stair-climbing steps in both women and men increased significantly (p ≤ 0.01). Daily stair-climbing steps increased about 36 steps in women and 47 steps in men. At the end of 6 months, only male participants had significant correlation between the number of stair steps and leg muscle strength (r = 0.428, p = 0.037). This study reported that healthy older adults attending the community-based PA program had regular stair-climbing steps during daily living. Promoting stair climbing as an exercise routine was feasible to increase their walking and stair-climbing steps.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saengryeol Park ◽  
Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani ◽  
Jet J C S Veldhuijzen van Zanten ◽  
Nikos Ntoumanis

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 16-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelle Van Cauwenberg ◽  
Veerle Van Holle ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
Delfien Van Dyck ◽  
Benedicte Deforche

2020 ◽  
pp. 016402752096361
Author(s):  
Yujun Liu ◽  
Margie E. Lachman

Objectives. The aim of this study was to explore social engagement and social comparisons as mechanisms to increase physical activity among older adults. Methods. Participants (N = 60, mean age = 65.7) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions. Participants in the treatment condition used the application to track their daily walking steps and interact via text messages with their group members for 4 weeks. Participants in the control group used the application only to track their own walking steps. Outcome variables included mean weekly steps, exercise self-efficacy, and social engagement. Results. The results revealed that participants in the experimental condition significantly increased their mean weekly steps and social engagement from the pretest to the posttest whereas the control group did not. These effects were maintained at the 1-month follow up. Discussion. The study expands our understanding of the motivational role of social engagement and social comparison in increasing PA among older adults.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Etnier

Alzheimer's disease is a chronic illness characterized by clinical cognitive impairment. A behavioral strategy that is being explored in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease is physical activity. Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing the effects of physical activity for cognitively normal older adults supports that physical activity benefits cognitive performance. Evidence from prospective studies supports a protective effect of physical activity with reductions in the risk of cognitive decline ranging from 28% to 45%. RCTs with cognitively impaired older adults also generally support positive effects with greater benefits evident for aerobic interventions. Research examining the potential moderating role of apolipoprotein E (APOE) has yielded mixed results, but the majority of the studies support that physical activity most benefits those who are at greatest genetic risk of Alzheimer's disease. Future directions for research are considered with an emphasis on the need for additional funding to support this promising area of research.


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