scholarly journals Physically Active Lifestyle Is Associated With Attenuation of Hippocampal Dysfunction in Cognitively Intact Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamir Eisenstein ◽  
Nir Giladi ◽  
Talma Hendler ◽  
Ofer Havakuk ◽  
Yulia Lerner
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Recognition Task ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Memory Encoding ◽  
Hippocampal Function ◽  
Active Lifestyle ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Hippocampal Dysfunction ◽  
Cognitively Intact

Alterations in hippocampal function have been shown in older adults, which are expressed as changes in hippocampal activity and connectivity. While hippocampal activation during memory demands has been demonstrated to decrease with age, some older individuals present increased activity, or hyperactivity, of the hippocampus which is associated with increased neuropathology and poor memory function. In addition, lower functional coherence between the hippocampus and core hubs of the default mode network (DMN), namely, the posteromedial and medial prefrontal cortices, as well as increased local intrahippocampal connectivity, were also demonstrated in cognitively intact older adults. Aerobic exercise has been shown to elicit neuroprotective effects on hippocampal structure and vasculature in aging, and improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness have been suggested to mediate these exercise-related effects. However, how these lifestyle factors relate to hippocampal function is not clear. Fifty-two cognitively intact older adults (aged 65–80 years) have been recruited and divided into physically active (n = 29) or non-active (n = 23) groups based on their aerobic activity lifestyle habits. Participants underwent resting-state and task-based fMRI experiments which included an associative memory encoding paradigm followed by a post-scan memory recognition test. In addition, 44 participants also performed cardiopulmonary exercise tests to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness by measuring peak oxygen consumption (Vo2peak). While both groups demonstrated increased anterior hippocampal activation during memory encoding, a physically active lifestyle was associated with significantly lower activity level and higher memory performance in the recognition task. In addition, the physically active group also demonstrated higher functional connectivity of the anterior and posterior hippocampi with the core hubs of the DMN and lower local intra-hippocampal connectivity within and between hemispheres. Vo2peak was negatively associated with the hippocampal activation level and demonstrated a positive correlation with hippocampal-DMN connectivity. According to these findings, an aerobically active lifestyle may be associated with attenuation of hippocampal dysfunction in cognitively intact older adults.

scholarly journals Physically active lifestyle is associated with attenuation of hippocampal dysfunction in healthy older adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamir Eisenstein ◽  
Nir Giladi ◽  
Talma Hendler ◽  
Ofer Havakuk ◽  
Yulia Lerner
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Recognition Task ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Memory Encoding ◽  
Hippocampal Function ◽  
Active Lifestyle ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Hippocampal Dysfunction ◽  
Cognitively Intact

Alterations in hippocampal function have been shown in older adults, expressed as changes in hippocampal activity and connectivity. While hippocampal activation during memory demands have been demonstrated to decrease with age, some older individuals present increased activity, or hyperactivity, of the hippocampus which is associated with increased neuropathology and poorer memory function. In addition, lower functional coherence between the hippocampus and core hubs of the default mode network (DMN), namely the posteromedial and medial prefrontal cortices, as well as increased local intrahippocampal connectivity, were also demonstrated in cognitively intact older adults. Aerobic exercise has been shown to elicit neuroprotective effects on hippocampal structure and vasculature in aging, and improvements in maximal aerobic capacity (MAC) have been suggested to mediate these exercise-related effects. However, how these lifestyle factors relate to hippocampal function is not clear. Fifty-two cognitively intact older adults (age 65-80) have been recruited and divided into physically active (n=29) or non-active (n=23) groups based on their aerobic activity lifestyle habits. Participants underwent resting-state as well as task-based fMRI experiments which included an associative memory encoding paradigm followed by a post-scan memory recognition test. In addition, forty-four participants also performed cardiopulmonary exercise tests to evaluate MAC. While both groups demonstrated increased anterior hippocampal activation during memory encoding, physically active lifestyle was associated with significantly lower activity level and higher memory performance in the recognition task. In addition, the physically active group also demonstrated higher functional connectivity of the anterior and posterior hippocampi with the core hubs of the DMN, and lower local intra-hippocampal connectivity within and between hemispheres. MAC was negatively associated with hippocampal activation level and demonstrated positive correlation with hippocampal-DMN connectivity. According to these findings, aerobically active lifestyle may be associated with attenuation of hippocampal dysfunction in cognitively healthy older adults.

scholarly journals The Impact of Age and Physical Activity Level on Manual Aiming Performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Van Halewyck ◽  
Ann Lavrysen ◽  
Oron Levin ◽  
Digby Elliott ◽  
Werner F. Helsen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Feedback ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Manual Aiming ◽  
Active Lifestyle ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Aiming Movements ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Aiming Performance

Older adults traditionally adapt their discrete aiming movements, thereby traveling a larger proportion of the movement under closed-loop control. As the beneficial impact of a physically active lifestyle in older age has been described for several aspects of motor control, we compared the aiming performance of young controls to active and sedentary older adults. To additionally determine the contribution of visual feedback, aiming movements were executed with and without saccades. Results showed only sedentary older adults adopted the typical movement changes, highlighting the impact of a physically active lifestyle on manual aiming in older age. In an attempt to reveal the mechanism underlying the movement changes, evidence for an age-related decline in force control was found, which in turn resulted in an adapted aiming strategy. Finally, prohibiting saccades did not affect older adults’ performance to a greater extent, suggesting they do not rely more on visual feedback than young controls.

Neurocognitive Plasticity Is Associated with Cardiorespiratory Fitness Following Physical Exercise in Older Adults with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Galit Yogev-Seligmann ◽  
Tamir Eisenstein ◽  
Elissa Ash ◽  
Nir Giladi ◽  
Haggai Sharon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Aerobic Training ◽  
Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Memory Encoding

Background: Aerobic training has been shown to promote structural and functional neurocognitive plasticity in cognitively intact older adults. However, little is known about the neuroplastic potential of aerobic exercise in individuals at risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia. Objective: We aimed to explore the effect of aerobic exercise intervention and cardiorespiratory fitness improvement on brain and cognitive functions in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods: 27 participants with aMCI were randomized to either aerobic training (n = 13) or balance and toning (BAT) control group (n = 14) for a 16-week intervention. Pre- and post-assessments included functional MRI experiments of brain activation during associative memory encoding and neural synchronization during complex information processing, cognitive evaluation using neuropsychological tests, and cardiorespiratory fitness assessment. Results: The aerobic group demonstrated increased frontal activity during memory encoding and increased neural synchronization in higher-order cognitive regions such as the frontal cortex and temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) following the intervention. In contrast, the BAT control group demonstrated decreased brain activity during memory encoding, primarily in occipital, temporal, and parietal areas. Increases in cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with increases in brain activation in both the left inferior frontal and precentral gyri. Furthermore, changes in cardiorespiratory fitness were also correlated with changes in performance on several neuropsychological tests. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise training may result in functional plasticity of high-order cognitive areas, especially, frontal regions, among older adults at risk of AD and dementia. Furthermore, cardiorespiratory fitness may be an important mediating factor of the observed changes in neurocognitive functions.

scholarly journals Postural control does not affect performing or learning a temporal estimation task in physically active older adults

Kinesiology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-34
Author(s):  
Flavio Henrique Bastos ◽  
Maria Teresa da Silva Pinto Marques-Dahi ◽  
Fernando Garbeloto dos Santos ◽  
Ricardo Drews ◽  
Umberto Cesar Corrêa
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Target Line ◽  
Skill Learning ◽  
The Body ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Button Press ◽  
Estimation Task ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Temporal Estimation

Evidence suggests that postural control could act as a secondary task, leading to a negative effect on sensorimotor skill learning. To investigate this issue, twenty older adults (average age = 70.5 years, SD=5.6) were distributed into two groups, according to the body position maintained during the acquisition (AQ) of a temporal estimation task: performing the task standing with feet together (STA) or sitting (SIT). During the AQ, participants performed 90 trials of the task consisting of synchronising the arrival of two rectangles (‘Target A’ and ‘Target B’) to a target line. The velocity of Target A was chosen by the participants, among three possible ones, before each trial, without exceeding 30 trials per velocity. Target B had only one velocity and should be released by the participants, with a button press, when they judged it would reach the target line simultaneously with Target A. Contrary to what has been shown in studies with reaction time, postural control did not affect the performance of our temporal estimation task. Additionally, no effects on sensorimotor learning – inferred by immediate and delayed transfer tests – were found. Result suggests that postural control may not interfere with cognitive resources used to perform a simultaneous task, when this task does not demand fast processing, i.e. is not highly time constrained. Future studies should consider the physical activity level of participants, since the fact that all participants in the present study were physically active may have contributed to the observed results.

German senior citizens’ capabilities for physical activity: a qualitative study

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1117-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Sauter ◽  
Janina Curbach ◽  
Jana Rueter ◽  
Verena Lindacher ◽  
Julika Loss
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Capability Approach ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Active Lifestyle ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Active Lifestyles

Abstract Sen’s capability approach (CA) has found its way into health promotion over the last few years. The approach takes both individual factors as well as social and environmental conditions into account and therefore appears to have great potential to explore opportunities for (‘capabilities’) and barriers to active lifestyles. Thus, our objective in this study was to investigate which capabilities senior citizens perceive to have available to them in order to be physically active. In Southern Germany, we conducted 26 semi-standardized interviews with senior citizens aged 66–97, as well as 9 interviews with key persons who have close contact to senior citizens in their work life. We identified 11 capabilities which the interviewees considered as important in leading an active lifestyle. They could be grouped into four domains: (1) individual resources, (2) social interactions and norms, (3) living conditions and (4) organizational environment. Results highlight the need for health-promoting interventions that widen the range of capabilities on social and environmental levels in a way that individuals can freely choose to be as physically active as they like. The results make clear that interventions should not only target and involve older adults themselves, but also their families, nursing home staff or community representatives, because these groups are important in shaping older adults’ capabilities for an active lifestyle.

Older Adults’ Opinions on Fall Prevention in Relation to Physical Activity Level

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna Tuvemo Johnson ◽  
Cathrin Martin ◽  
Elisabeth Anens ◽  
Ann-Christin Johansson ◽  
Karin Hellström
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Fall Prevention ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Adaptive Strategies ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Behavioral Strategies ◽  
Physically Active

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe older adults’ opinions regarding actions to prevent falls and to analyze differences in the opinions of highly versus less physically active older adults. An open-ended question was answered by 262 individuals aged 75 to 98 years living in the community. The answers were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, and differences in the categories were compared between highly and less physically active persons. Physical activity was measured according to a five-level scale. The content analysis resulted in eight categories: assistive devices, avoiding hazards, behavioral adaptive strategies, being physically active, healthy lifestyle, indoor modifications, outdoor modifications, and seeking assistance. Behavioral adaptive strategies were mentioned to a greater extent by highly active people, and indoor modifications were more often mentioned by less active older adults. Support for active self-directed behavioral strategies might be important for fall prevention among less physically active older adults.

scholarly journals Accelerometer-based measures of sedentary behavior and cardio-metabolic risk in active older adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyn M Chase ◽  
Christine K Lockhart ◽  
Maureen C Ashe ◽  
Kenneth M Madden
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Metabolic Risk Factors ◽  
Metabolic Effects ◽  
Metabolic Risk ◽  
Physically Active

Purpose: Sedentary behavior has been proposed as an independent cardio-metabolic risk factor even in adults who are physically active through recreational activity. Because little is known about the metabolic effects of sedentariness in seniors, the relationship between sedentary behavior and cardio-metabolic risk was examined in physically active older adults. Methods: Fifty-four community dwelling men and women > 65 years of age (mean 71.5 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. Subjects were in good health and free of known diabetes. Activity levels (sedentary, light, moderate to vigorous activity time per day) were recorded with accelerometers worn continuously for 7 days. Cardio-metabolic risk factors measured consisted of the American Heart Association diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome (waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, systolic blood pressure and fasting glucose) as well as low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The relationships between activity measures and cardio-metabolic risk factors were examined. Significant variables were then entered into a stepwise multivariate regression model. Results: All but one subject achieved exercise levels recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine. The average proportion of time spent at a sedentary activity level each day was 72.7%. From the regression analysis, the only significant association found between cardio-metabolic risk outcomes and activity predictors was between LDL and sedentary time, with LDL detrimentally associated with average sedentary time per day (Standardized Beta Correlation Coefficient 0.302, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Sedentary behavior is associated with an adverse metabolic effect on LDL in seniors, even those who meet guideline recommendations for an active “fit” adult.

Older Adults’ Objectively Monitored Walking Behaviors and the Factors that Shape Them

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-86
Author(s):  
Catrine Tudor-Locke ◽  
Stephanie Broyles
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Functional Mobility ◽  
Collective Knowledge ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Active Lifestyle ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Individual Program ◽  
Apparently Healthy

The focus of a physically active lifestyle for older adults is to preserve functional mobility and delay losses associated with decrepitude in later years. Since ambulation is of utmost importance to older adults’ mobility, the purpose of this nonexhaustive review is to consider older adults’ walking behaviors objectively captured as steps/day and the factors that shape them. Summarized evidence currently indicates that apparently healthy older adults accumulate between 2,000–9,000 steps/day and that older adults living with disabilities and/or chronic conditions average approximately 1,200–8,800 steps/day. The scientific body of objectively monitored knowledge focused on potential individual, program, and contextual factors that shape older adults’ walking behaviors expressed as steps/day (i.e., their ability to and practice of getting “out and about”) is infantile at this time. We provide a simple research agenda to spark scholarly efforts to address research gaps and opportunities in the collective knowledge base.

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