Physical activity for brain health in older adults

Physical activity is a promising strategy for dementia prevention and disease modification. Here, we provide a narrative review of the current evidence from epidemiological and intervention studies on the role of physical activity and exercise in promoting cognitive health in older adults both without and with cognitive impairment. We highlight some of the potential underlying mechanisms and discuss biological sex as a potential moderating factor. We conclude with limitations and future directions for this rapidly expanding line of research.

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Exercise is Medicine for the Aging Brain

Kinesiology Review ◽

10.1123/kr.2016-0035 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 22-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Teresa Liu-Ambrose ◽

John R. Best

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Target Population ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Lifestyle Factor ◽

Aging Brain ◽

Cognitive Health ◽

Modifying Factors ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Cognitive decline is a common feature of aging. Physical activity is a modifiable lifestyle factor that has been identified as positively impacting cognitive health of older adults. Here, we review the current evidence from epidemiological (i.e., longitudinal cohort) and intervention studies on the role of physical activity and exercise in promoting cognitive health in older adults both with and without cognitive impairment. We highlight some of the potential underlying mechanisms and discuss some of the potential modifying factors, including exercise type and target population, by reviewing recent converging behavioral, neuroimaging, and biomarker evidence linking physical activity with cognitive health. We conclude with limitations and future directions for this rapidly expanding line of research.

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Physical Activity in the Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease

Kinesiology Review ◽

10.1123/kr.2014-0075 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 28-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jennifer L. Etnier

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Older Adults ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Cognitively Impaired ◽

Future Directions ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Additional Funding ◽

Promising Area

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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Physical Activity, Exercise, and Physical Rehabilitation

10.1007/978-3-030-63892-4_14 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 189-198

Author(s):

Camila Astolphi Lima ◽

Renato Barbosa dos Santos ◽

Monica Rodrigues Perracini

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Geriatric Syndromes ◽

Positive Health ◽

Health Trajectories ◽

The Life Course

AbstractEnhancing physical activity promotes positive health trajectories throughout the life course. Physical activity should be tailored and graded to suit older adults’ capacities and needs and can be combined with rehabilitation interventions to manage geriatric syndromes and disability. This chapter provides a summary of current evidence about the role of physical activity for older adults, emphasizing nutritional aspects. We also present strategies to help health-care professionals to enhance physical activity participation.

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Perceptions and Beliefs About the Role of Physical Activity and Nutrition on Brain Health in Older Adults

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnp078 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 49 (S1) ◽

pp. S61-S71 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

S. Wilcox ◽

J. R. Sharkey ◽

A. E. Mathews ◽

J. N. Laditka ◽

S. B. Laditka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Brain Health

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The role of exercise and physical activity on aging-related diseases and geriatric syndromes

SPORT TK-Revista EuroAmericana de Ciencias del Deporte ◽

10.6018/sportk.464401 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 6

Author(s):

Mehdi Kushkestani ◽

Mohsen Parvani ◽

Mahmood Ghafari ◽

Zahra Avazpoor

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Population Aging ◽

Low Cost ◽

Premature Death ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Geriatric Syndrome ◽

Geriatric Syndromes ◽

Public Health Burden

Aging is a complex process of physiological and social changes that leads to various diseases. The number of elderly people in the world is increasing dramatically and it should be noted that rapid population aging represents a major public health burden. On the other hand, providing an appropriate and low-cost approach to control and prevent complications such as chronic diseases, physical dysfunction, and the geriatric syndrome is necessary. Also, numerous studies have shown that participation in physical activity and exercise training reduces the incidence of dysfunctional capacity, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, as well as the premature death rate in older adults. After plenty of precise observations about the role of exercise on aging-related diseases and geriatric syndromes articles, the benefits of exercise and physical activity in older adults will be more tangible. Therefore, the first purpose of the present review was to investigate the mechanisms of PA and exercises that are involved in the prevention of aging-related diseases and GS using current evidence (from 2015 onwards). Also, the purpose of this study was to provide an exercise guideline (aerobic and resistance training) based on recent evidence (from 2015 onwards). El envejecimiento es un proceso complejo de cambios fisiológicos y sociales que conduce a diversas enfermedades. El número de personas de edad avanzada en el mundo está aumentando drásticamente y cabe señalar que el rápido envejecimiento de la población representa una importante carga para la salud pública. Por otro lado, es necesario brindar un enfoque adecuado y de bajo costo para controlar y prevenir complicaciones como enfermedades crónicas, disfunción física y síndrome geriátrico. Además, numerosos estudios han demostrado que la participación en la actividad física y el entrenamiento físico reduce la incidencia de disfunciones, enfermedades cardiovasculares y metabólicas, así como la tasa de muerte prematura en los adultos mayores. Después de muchas observaciones precisas sobre el papel del ejercicio en los artículos sobre enfermedades relacionadas con el envejecimiento y síndromes geriátricos, los beneficios del ejercicio y la actividad física en los adultos mayores serán más tangibles. Por lo tanto, el primer propósito de la presente revisión fue investigar los mecanismos de actividad física y ejercicios que están involucrados en la prevención de enfermedades relacionadas con el envejecimiento y síndrome geriátrico utilizando la evidencia actual (de 2015 en adelante). Además, el propósito de este estudio fue proporcionar una guía de ejercicio (entrenamiento aeróbico y de resistencia) basada en evidencia reciente (de 2015 en adelante).

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Role of Physical Activity and Nutrition on Brain Health in Older Adults Based on Assessment

J of Health Science ◽

10.17265/2328-7136/2013.12.001 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1 (12) ◽

Author(s):

Chiyuri Nagayama

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Brain Health

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306 - Loneliness and mortality in older adults and the role of depression

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610220002069 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (S1) ◽

pp. 64-64

Author(s):

T.J. Holwerda ◽

D. Rhebergen ◽

H.C. Comijs ◽

J.J.M. Dekker ◽

M.L. Stek

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Older Adults ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Clinical Perspective ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Dexamethasone Suppression

Background:The prevalence of loneliness increases with age. The presence of loneliness in older adults has been found to be associated with health problems such as depression, decreased cognitive functioning, increases in systolic blood pressure and increased mortality. The underlying mechanisms of the higher mortality risk are largely unknown.Methods:Meta-analysis to investigate the present evidence for the associations between loneliness and mortality. Cross-sectional studies investigating the associations between loneliness and cardiovascular disease and between loneliness and cortisol in 378 depressed and 132 non-depressed older adults.Results:Loneliness appears to be associated with increased mortality, although when only studies are included that consider depression as a covariate, the association is not significant. Therefore it seems likely that depression plays a mediating role in the higher mortality risk.We did not find a significant association between loneliness and cardiovascular disease. In contrast, loneliness was significantly associated with lower cortisol output and decreased dexamethasone suppression.Discussion:The results and their implications for prevention and treatment will be discussed from a clinical perspective as well as a general health perspective. Is loneliness as potentially dangerous as depression?

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Role of interleukins in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis

Cell Death Discovery ◽

10.1038/s41420-021-00437-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yi Xin She ◽

Qing Yang Yu ◽

Xiao Xiao Tang

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Therapeutic Strategy ◽

Future Directions ◽

Regulation Mechanisms ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Multiple Cells ◽

The Relationship

AbstractInterleukins, a group of cytokines participating in inflammation and immune response, are proved to be involved in the formation and development of pulmonary fibrosis. In this article, we reviewed the relationship between interleukins and pulmonary fibrosis from the clinical, animal, as well as cellular levels, and discussed the underlying mechanisms in vivo and in vitro. Despite the effects of interleukin-targeted treatment on experimental pulmonary fibrosis, clinical applications are lacking and unsatisfactory. We conclude that intervening in one type of interleukins with similar functions in IPF may not be enough to stop the development of fibrosis as it involves a complex network of regulation mechanisms. Intervening interleukins combined with other existing therapy or targeting interleukins affecting multiple cells/with different functions at the same time may be one of the future directions. Furthermore, the intervention time is critical as some interleukins play different roles at different stages. Further elucidation on these aspects would provide new perspectives on both the pathogenesis mechanism, as well as the therapeutic strategy and drug development.

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