scholarly journals A Review of the Effects of Physical Activity and Exercise on Cognitive and Brain Functions in Older Adults

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Bherer ◽  
Kirk I. Erickson ◽  
Teresa Liu-Ambrose
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Physical Activity And Exercise ◽  
The Mind

Studies supporting the notion that physical activity and exercise can help alleviate the negative impact of age on the body and the mind abound. This literature review provides an overview of important findings in this fast growing research domain. Results from cross-sectional, longitudinal, and intervention studies with healthy older adults, frail patients, and persons suffering from mild cognitive impairment and dementia are reviewed and discussed. Together these finding suggest that physical exercise is a promising nonpharmaceutical intervention to prevent age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Can Light Physical Activity Improve Cognition Among Older Adults? A Scoping Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 891-892
Author(s):  
Emily Erlenbach ◽  
Edward McAuley ◽  
Neha Gothe
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Acute Exercise ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Intensity Physical Activity

Abstract Although the physical and cognitive benefits of moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) for older adults is well documented, this population often faces age-related functional and physical limitations impeding recommended MVPA participation. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in the independent health benefits of light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and its association with morbidity and mortality risk. LPA is the most common form of activity among older adults and its potential to combat cognitive aging needs to be investigated. The purpose of this scoping review was to catalog existing evidence on the association between device-based or technologically measured LPA and cognition among healthy older adults, identify trends in the literature, and pinpoint future areas of research. Six electronic databases were searched between January and August 2020. Eighteen published studies met the inclusion criteria: one acute exercise study, two randomized control trials (RCTs), twelve cross-sectional studies, and three longitudinal studies. Overall, n=9 studies (n=1 RCT, n=7 cross-sectional, and n=1 longitudinal) reported a significant, positive relationship between LPA and one or more cognitive outcomes including memory, attention, executive function and global cognition (MMSE/MOCA). These heterogeneous findings can largely be attributed to the diverse study designs, inconsistent definitions of LPA and numerous assessments used to test the cognitive domains. Collectively, these findings suggest LPA may be a potential lifestyle intervention to improve cognition among healthy older adults. However, the inconsistent approaches used among these studies suggests a more concerted, unified scientific approach and rigorous methodology are needed to further understand the LPA-cognition relationship.

Kinematic Analysis of Dance-Based Exergaming: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest K. Ofori ◽  
Savitha Subramaniam ◽  
Shuaijie Wang ◽  
Tanvi Bhatt
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Aging Populations ◽  
Cortical Pathology

Background: Recent studies demonstrate improvements in both postural stability and mobility among aging populations and those with stroke who are exposed to dance-based exergaming (DBExG). However, age-related deficits and aging with cortical pathology may lead to distinct movement adaptation patterns during DBExG, which could impact therapeutic outcomes.Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the movement kinematics (postural stability and mobility) of healthy older adults, older adults with stroke, and young adults for different paces of dance during DBExG. Method: The study included 33 particpants (11 participant from each group of healthy older adults, older adults with chronic stroke, and healthy young adults) who performed the DBExG using slow- (SP), medium- (MP), and fast-paced (FP) songs with movements in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions. Center of mass (CoM) sway area, excursion (Ex), and peaks as well as hip, knee, and ankle joint excursions were computed. Results: Results of the study revealed that CoM sway areas and Exs were greater for healthy young adults than for older adults with stroke for the SP dance (p < 0.05) and that there were significantly more AP CoM peaks for young adults than for healthy older adults and those with stroke for the FP dance (p < 0.05). Young adults also exhibited greater hip and ankle Exs than older adults with stroke (p < 0.05) for all song paces. Similarly, knee and ankle Exs were greater for healthy older adults than for older adults with stroke for all song paces (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The quantitative evaluation and comparison of the movement patterns presented for the three groups could provide a foundation for both assessing and designing therapeutic DBExG protocols for these populations.

scholarly journals Motility in Frail Older Adults: Operationalization of a New Framework and First Insights into Its Relationship with Physical Activity and Life-Space Mobility: An Exploratory Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 8814
Author(s):  
Julia Seinsche ◽  
Wiebren Zijlstra ◽  
Eleftheria Giannouli
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Life Space ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Frail Older Adults ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Age Related

In order to design effective interventions to prevent age-related mobility loss, it is important to identify influencing factors. The concept of “motility” by Kaufmann et al. subdivides such factors into three categories: “access”, “skills”, and “appropriation”. The aim of this study was to assemble appropriate quantitative assessment tools for the assessment of these factors in frail older adults and to get first insights into their relative contribution for life-space and physical activity-related mobility. This is an exploratory cross-sectional study conducted with twenty-eight at least prefrail, retired participants aged 61–94. Life-space mobility was assessed using the “University of Alabama at Birmingham Life-space Assessment” (LSA) and physical activity using the “German Physical Activity Questionnaire” (PAQ50+). Factors from the category “appropriation”, followed by factors from the category “skills” showed the strongest associations with the LSA. Factors from the category “access” best explained the variance for PAQ50+. This study’s findings indicate the importance of accounting for and examining comprehensive models of mobility. The proposed assessment tools need to be explored in more depth in longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes in order to yield more conclusive results about the appropriateness of the motility concept for such purposes.

Cognitive dysfunction and multiple sclerosis: developing a rationale for considering the efficacy of exercise training

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 1034-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W Motl ◽  
Brian M Sandroff ◽  
Ralph HB Benedict
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Exercise Training ◽  
Aerobic Fitness ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physical Activity And Exercise

Cognitive impairment is a prevalent, disabling, and poorly managed consequence of multiple sclerosis (MS). This underscores the importance of considering alternative approaches, such as exercise training, for managing cognitive impairment in persons with MS. The consideration of exercise training is warranted based on evidence summarized in literature reviews and meta-analyses that (1) aerobic fitness, physical activity, and exercise training are associated with better cognitive function in older adults; and (2) exercise training has comparable effects on mobility and quality of life outcomes in older adults and persons with MS. To date, research examining aerobic fitness, physical activity, and exercise training effects on cognition in MS is nascent and mostly includes cross-sectional designs that provide preliminary evidence for a well-designed randomized controlled trial (RCT). We believe that a future RCT should adopt research methodologies and practices from gerontology when examining exercise training and cognition in MS. This will maximize the potential for successfully generating a body of knowledge on exercise training and cognition with the potential for impacting the lives of persons with MS.

scholarly journals Accelerometer Physical Activity is Associated with Greater Gray Matter Volumes in Older Adults Without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 1142-1151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Halloway ◽  
Konstantinos Arfanakis ◽  
JoEllen Wilbur ◽  
Michael E Schoeny ◽  
Susan J Pressler
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Gray Matter Atrophy ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Gray Matter Volumes

Abstract Objectives Physical activity (PA) is a modifiable health behavior that can protect against age-related gray matter atrophy and cognitive dysfunction. Current studies of PA and gray matter failed to utilize device measures of PA and do not focus on adults >80 years. Thus, the purpose of this secondary analysis was to examine cross-sectional associations between accelerometer lifestyle PA and (a) gray matter volumes and (b) cognitive function, controlling for demographics, and health status. Method Participants were 262 older adults without dementia or mild cognitive impairment from Rush Memory and Aging Project, an epidemiological cohort study. Participants wore an accelerometer to assess total daily lifestyle PA, and completed anatomical magnetic resonance imaging to assess gray matter volumes and a neurocognitive test battery to assess cognitive function. Results Multivariate linear regression indicated that higher levels of total daily lifestyle PA was significantly related to larger gray matter volumes, F(2, 215) = 3.61, p = .027, including subcortical gray matter (β = 0.17, p = .007) and total gray matter (β = 0.11, p = .049), with no significant associations between lifestyle PA and cognitive function. Discussion These findings may inform future lifestyle PA interventions in order to attenuate age-related gray matter atrophy.

scholarly journals Free-Living Physical Activity Measured With a Wearable Device Is Associated With Larger Hippocampus Volume and Greater Functional Connectivity in Healthy Older Adults: An Observational, Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Portugal

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Célia Domingos ◽  
Maria Picó-Pérez ◽  
Ricardo Magalhães ◽  
Mariana Moreira ◽  
Nuno Sousa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Brain Structure And Function ◽  
And Function

Several studies using neuroimaging techniques have established a positive relationship between physical activity (PA) and brain structure and function in older populations. However, the use of subjective measures of PA and the lack of multimodal neuroimaging approaches have limited the understanding of this association. This study aims to explore the associations between PA and brain structure and function by objectively evaluating PA. Community-dwelling cognitively healthy older adults (without diagnosed cognitive, neurological or degenerative disease) were recruited from local health centers and local gyms. In a cross-sectional design, participants were evaluated regarding cognitive, clinical, anthropometric, physical performance, and lifestyle characteristics. A 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed for structural and functional brain measures. PA time and level was assessed via a Xiaomi Mi Band 2® worn for 15 consecutive days. Participants (n = 110, after inclusion/exclusion criteria and completion of all evaluations) were 58 females (56%), with an average age of 68.42 years old (SD = 3.12), most were active. Multiple regression analysis revealed that higher time spent in vigorous PA associated with larger left parahippocampal gyrus and right hippocampus volumes. Furthermore, the analysis of the functional connectome indicated a greater functional connectivity (FC) between the frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, occipital inferior lobe for light, moderate, and total PA time, and sedentary time associated with lower FC in the same networks. Overall, the structural and functional findings may provide evidence on the relevant association between PA and brain health in aging.

scholarly journals Sarcopenia and Its Relationships with Depression, Cognition, and Physical Activity in Thai Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Kornanong Yuenyongchaiwat ◽  
Rumpa Boonsinsukh
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background. Age-related sarcopenia is associated with physical decline, including poor functional capacity, lack of physical activity, problems with activities of daily living, and disability. However, little is known about the association between mental health problems and cognitive function in older adults with sarcopenia. Therefore, this study explored community-dwelling older adults’ sarcopenia prevalence and related associations with depression, cognitive performance, and physical activity. Methods. This cross-sectional study included 330 community-dwelling older adults (66.85 ± 5.54 years, 76.06% female). Based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia guidelines, gait speed, muscle mass, and handgrip were assessed. All participants responded to a set of questionnaires (e.g., Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, cognitive assessment, and depression scale). Logistic regression analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine independent predictors for sarcopenia. Results. Overall, 16.1% of the participants were identified as having sarcopenia. Further, advanced age (i.e., mean age ≥ 70 years; odds ratio: 4.67), high depression scores (odds ratio: 2.09), mild cognitive impairment (odds ratio: 0.22), and low physical activity levels (odds ratio: 1.96) were significant associated risk factors for sarcopenia after adjusting for age, sex, and educational level. Conclusions. Sarcopenia can lead to adverse health outcomes (i.e., depressive symptoms, cognitive decline, and low physical activity) in older adults.

scholarly journals Associations between Pet Ownership and Frailty: A Systematic Review

Geriatrics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Gotaro Kojima ◽  
Reijiro Aoyama ◽  
Yu Taniguchi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Frailty is defined as a state of increased vulnerability due to age-related decline in reserve and function across multiple physiological systems. Increasing physical activity level is considered to be a measure to counteract frailty. Some studies have indicated that pet owners are more engaged in physical activity than non-owners. We conducted a systematic review regarding associations between pet ownerships and frailty among community-dwelling older adults and critically assessed the findings. PubMed was searched in April 2020 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for cross-sectional or prospective studies examining associations between pet ownership and frailty in community-dwelling older adults with a mean age of 60 or above. A supplementary search was done using Google Scholar. Identified articles were reviewed by two investigators independently and assessed for methodological quality. The search identified 48 studies, among which three studies (two cross-sectional and one prospective) were included in this review. These studies suggested that pet ownership may be associated with a lower risk of frailty. This systematic review found only a limited amount of relevant research. More research is needed to establish the link between pet ownership and frailty as well as healthy aging and well-being.

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