Practical applications of physical activity for successful cognitive aging (original) (raw)
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Exercise interventions for dementia and cognitive impairment: The Seattle Protocols
The Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging, 2008
Research evidence strongly suggests that increased physical exercise may not only improve physical function in older adults but may also improve mood and slow the progression of cognitive decline. This paper describes a series of evidence-based interventions grounded in social-learning and gerontological theory that were designed to increase physical activity in persons with dementia and mild cognitive impairment. These programs, part of a collective termed the Seattle Protocols, are systematic, evidence-based approaches that are unique 1) in their focus on the importance of making regular exercise a pleasant activity, and 2) in teaching both cognitively impaired participants and their caregivers behavioral and problem-solving strategies for successfully establishing and maintaining realistic and pleasant exercise goals. While additional research is needed, initial findings from randomized controlled clinical trials are quite promising and suggest that the Seattle Protocols are both feasible and beneficial for community-residing individuals with a range of cognitive abilities and impairments.
Benefits of Physical Activity on Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults
Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2016
As the world becomes more populated and more medically advanced, more people are starting to live longer. There are growing concerns for the health and well-being of an ever-growing population. Aging is accompanied by a series of changes, cognitive decline being one of them. As health becomes more challenging, physical activity may become more cumbersome. However, in many instances, physical activity has been found to prevent and delay cognitive decline. In fact, exercise may prove to be a powerful preventative measure against cognitive impairment in older adults. The aim of this chapter is to explore the evidence base of the effects of physical activity on cognitive decline prevention as well as to review the recommended guidelines for physical activity in this population based on findings in the field.
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 2009
Background. Cognitive impairment is an important contributor to disability. Limited clinical trial evidence exists regarding the impact of physical exercise on cognitive function (CF). We report results of a pilot study to provide estimates of the relative impact of physical activity (PA) on 1-year changes in cognitive outcomes and to characterize relationships between changes in mobility disability and changes in cognition in older adults at increased risk for disability. Methods. Sedentary persons (102) at increased risk for disability (aged 70-89 years) were randomized to moderate-intensity PA or health education. Participants were administered the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), modifi ed Stroop test, and Modifi ed Mini-Mental State Examination at baseline and 1 year. Results. Group differences were not signifi cant but improvements in cognitive scores were associated with improvements in physical function. Specifi cally, the DSST signifi cantly correlated with change in the Short Physical Performance Battery score (r = .38, p = .0002), in chair stand score (r = .26, p = .012), in balance score (r = .21, p = .046), and in 400-m gait speed (r = .15, p = .147). Change recall on the RAVLT and in the Stroop test was also positively correlated with changes in chair stand and balance, respectively. Conclusions. These results provide further support for the benefi ts of exercise on CF in older adults. An adequately powered clinical trial of PA involving older adults at increased risk for cognitive disability is needed to expand the indications for prescribing exercise for prevention of decline in brain function .
The effect of physical activity on cognitive function in patients with dementia
Introduction Dementia is a clinical syndrome characterized by cognitive decline, motor deficits and/or behavioral problems, causing a decline in daily functioning. Various neuropathologies can underlie dementia syndromes but the most prevalent cause is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), accounting for 60–70%of the cases. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. Advancing age is the main risk factor for most sporadic forms of dementia and with the ever-increasing aging population worldwide the prevalence of dementia is expected to nearly double from 35.6 million cases in 2010 to 65.7 million in 2030. This expected increase will have profound social and financial consequences, and dementia has therefore been denoted a public health priority by the World Health Organization. Currently, no disease-modifying drugs for dementia are avail-able and pharmacological treatment is limited to therapies that alleviate the symptoms. However, these treatments are not efficacious in all patients and may introduce undesirable side effects. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as physical activity interventions, are therefore appealing alternatives or add-ons. Epidemiological studies have shown that increased lifetime engagement in physical activities reduces the risk of dementia-onset in cognitively normal elderly persons. Experimental animal studies have identified several molecular mechanisms such as enhancement of neurotrophic levels, neurogenesis, and vascularization that may explain this beneficial effect. Moreover, physical activity may even reduce aggregation of pathogenic proteins, mediate neuroinflammation and inhibit neuronal dysfunction. Physical activity thus seems to enhance brain vitality and several studies have investigated whether physical activity interventions are sufficient to slow down cognitive decline once the clinical diagnosis of dementia has been established. Results have been mixed; however, as some studies indeed showed a positive effect of physical activity interventions, while others did not. In the current study, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that investigated the effect of physical activity on cognitive function in patients with dementia. Secondary objectives of this meta-analysis were to assess whether the effect of physical activity on cognitive function was (1) comparable across different types of dementia, (2) dependent on aerobic and/or non-aerobic exercise, and (3) affected by the frequency of the intervention.
Physical activity benefits for Alzheimer's disease patients (A Review)
Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 2014
Pano, G. (2014). Physical activity benefits for Alzheimer's disease patients. (A Review). J. Hum. Sport Exerc., 9(Proc1), pp.S319-S325. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic and degenerative disease which is the main cause for dementia in older adults. It is well known that exercise can reduce the risk level for vascular risk factors, heart diseases (Blair et al., 1996), atherosclerosis (Lakka et al., 2001), stroke (Kurl et al., 2001) and diabetes (Seals et al., 1984; Houmard et al., 1996), diseases that can increase the risk for dementia and AD (Gustafson et al., 2003). Main objective of this study was to review the latest literature recomendations regarding the most appropriate exercise testing, programming and types of physical activity that Alzheimer's disease patients should practice. The search has been made mainly, focusing in PubMed/MEDLINE, for randomized controlled trial studies which used PA intervention as a weapon for delaying or treating symtoms of AD patients. There are clear evidences which shows that AD patients can benefit from all types of occupational PA and have a positive effect on their psycho-social and cognitive functioning. AD patients who engage in PA, also have positive effect in motor abilities, activities of daily life and makes them more independent from others. Further studies for AD patients involving a larger number of subjects and different types of individualised exercise interventional programs are necessary to be conducted.
Physical activity programs in older persons with Alzheimer’s disease: a need for dedicated trials
Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics
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