Exercise, ageing and cognitive function - Effects of a personalized physical exercise program in the cognitive function of older adults

Background: Physical exercise influences homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations, cognitive function and the metabolic profile. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of regular physical exercise on Hcy levels, the metabolic profile and cognitive function in healthy elderly males before and after an endurance exercise program. Methods: Forty-five healthy and sedentary volunteers were randomized into 2 groups: (1) a control group asked not to change their normal everyday activities and not to start any regular physical exercise program and (2) an experimental group trained at a heart rate intensity corresponding to ventilatory threshold 1 (VT-1) for 60 min/day 3 times weekly on alternate days for 6 months using a cycle ergometer. All volunteers underwent cognitive evaluations, blood sample analyses and ergospirometric assessments. Results: A significant improvement in cognitive function was observed in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). No significant changes in Hcy levels were observed in the experimental group (p > 0.05), but there was a significant increase in peak oxygen consumption and workload at VT-1 as well as a significant improvement in cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, glucose, alkaline phosphatase, urea, T3, T4 and prostate-specific antigen compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The data suggest that a physical exercise program does not reduce Hcy levels in healthy elderly males, although it improves the cardiovascular and metabolic profile as well as cognitive function.

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Effects of a Personalized Physical Exercise Program in the Ventricular-arterial Coupling of Older Adults. A Pilot Study

Artery Research ◽

10.2991/artres.k.200222.001 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Telmo Pereira ◽

Inês Cipriano ◽

Joaquim Castanheira

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

Exercise Program

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Effects of physical exercise on cognitively impaired older adults: a meta-analysis of randomized control trials

10.21203/rs.3.rs-15634/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lenka Sontakova ◽

Alzbeta Bartova ◽

Klara Dadova ◽

Iva Holmerova ◽

Michal Steffl

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Cognitive Impairments ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Randomized Control Trials ◽

Global Cognitive Function ◽

Randomized Control

Abstract Objectives: The main aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the effects of different physical activities on cognitive functions in older adults divided according to cognitive impairment levels. Methods: We searched Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed for randomized control trials (RCT). A standardized mean difference (SMD) of the pre-post intervention score of global cognitive function tests were calculated by the random model in the Cochrane meta-analyses for people with cognitive impairment generally and across three levels - mild, mild to moderate, and moderate to severe cognitive impairment separately. Additionally, an unstandardized coefficient beta (B) was calculated in generalized linear models to estimate the effects of exercise, cognitive impairment severity, age, female ratio, length of intervention, and time of exercise a week on the global cognitive function. Results: Data from 26 studies involving 1,137 participants from intervention groups and 1,187 participants from control groups were analyzed. Physical exercise had a positive effect on cognitive functions in people across all levels of cognitive impairments SMD (95 % confidence interval [CI]) = 1.19 (0.77 - 1.62); however, heterogeneity was considerably high I 2 = 95%. Aerobic (B = 8.881) and resistance exercise (B = 4.464) was significantly associated with better results in global cognitive functions when compared to active control. A higher number of female participants cin intervention groups had a statistically significant effect on the global cognitive function (B = 0.229). onclusions: Physical exercise was associated with cognitive function improvement in older people with cognitive impairments. Aerobic exercise was more strongly associated than resistance exercise to combat cognitive decline. Keywords: Physical activity, Dementia, Aging, Meta-analysis, Aerobic exercise, Cognitive function

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Determinants of participation in a post-hospitalization physical exercise program for older adults

10.21203/rs.3.rs-27243/v5 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Miriam Urquiza ◽

Iñaki Echeverria ◽

Ariadna Besga ◽

Maria Amasene ◽

Idoia Labayen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Physical Function ◽

Multivariate Regression ◽

Older Patients ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Exercise Interventions ◽

Poor Nutritional Status

Abstract BACKGROUND: Older patients often experience a decline in physical function and cognitive status after hospitalization. Although interventions involving physical exercise are effective in improving functional performance, participation in physical exercise interventions among older individuals is low. We aimed to identify factors that contribute to exercise refusal among post-hospitalized older patients.METHODS: A cross-sectional study of recruitment data from a randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 495 hospitalized people ≥70 years old. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained from the Basque Public Health System database. We determined physical function with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), nutritional status with the Mini-Nutritional Assessment, frailty according to the Fried phenotype criteria, and cognitive function with the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). Student’s t, Mann-Whitney U, or chi-squared tests were applied for bivariate analysis. Parameters significantly associated with participation were introduced in a logistic multivariate regression model.RESULTS: Among the analyzed patients, 88.8% declined participation in the physical exercise program. Multivariate regression revealed that older age (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.07 - 1.19), poor nutritional status (OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.69 - 0.95), and reduced home accessibility (OR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.08 - 0.94) were predictors of participation refusal. Moreover, patients who declined participation had worse performance on the SPPB (P < 0.05) and its tests of balance, leg strength, and walking speed (P < 0.05). No differences were found between groups in other variables. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms low participation of older adults in a post-hospitalization physical exercise program. Non-participation was associated with increased age, poor nutritional status, and reduced home accessibility. Our findings support the need for intervention design that accounts for these factors to increase older patient participation in beneficial exercise programs.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12619000093189 (retrospectively registered): Registered January 22, 2019.

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