Background:
Physical activity in the elderly is recommended by international guidelines to protect against cognitive decline and functional impairment.
Objective:
This Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) was set up to verify whether medium-intensity physical activity in elderly people living in the community is effective in improving cognitive performance.
Design:
RCT with parallel and balanced large groups.
Setting:
Academic university hospital and Olympic gyms.
Subjects:
People aged 65 years old and older of both genders living at home holding a medical certificate for suitability in non-competitive physical activity.
Methods:
Participants were randomized to a 12-week, 3 sessions per week moderate physical activity program or to a control condition focused on cultural and recreational activities in groups of the same size and timing as the active intervention group. The active phase integrated a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic exercises, including drills of “life movements”, strength and balance. The primary outcome was: any change in Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R) and its subscales.
Results:
At the end of the trial, 52 people completed the active intervention, and 53 people completed the control condition. People in the active intervention improved on the ACE-R (ANOVA: F(1;102)=4.32, p=0.040), and also showed better performances on the memory (F(1;102)=5.40 p=0.022) and visual-space skills subscales of the ACE-R (F(1;102)=4.09 p=0.046).
Conclusion:
A moderate-intensity exercise administered for a relatively short period of 12 weeks is capable of improving cognitive performance in a sample of elderly people who live independently in their homes.
Clinical Trials Registration No: NCT03858114
Complex Mental and Physical Activity in Older Women and Cognitive Performance: A 6-month Randomized Controlled Trial