Psychological Factors Predicting Sedentary Behavior of Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Brazil.

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the psychological factors that might predict the sedentary behavior of 654 older adults from the South Region of Brazil. The participants were evaluated by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire; Mini-Mental State Exam; Geriatric Anxiety Scale; and the scales Geriatric Depression, Purpose in Life, Perceived Stress, Rosenberg Self-Esteem, and Satisfaction with Life. Data analysis was conducted through Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis (p < .05). No significant (p > .05) correlation was found between the sedentary behavior variables with self-esteem. Multiple regression analysis revealed that psychological variables explained 6% of the variance of sitting time during the week (R2 = .06; F = 11.546; p < .01). Depression showed a positive prediction (ß = -0.10; p = .040), while life satisfaction (ß = -0.16; p = .001) and purpose in life (ß = -0.10; p = .026) showed negative prediction. Psychological variables predicted only 3% of the variance of sitting time during the weekend (R2 = .03; F = 5.629; p < .01), showing that life satisfaction had significant (p = .007) and negative (ß = -0.13) association. Life satisfaction and purpose in life can be considered protector factors to sedentary behavior, while depression is a potentiating factor.

Chronic Blood Pressure Reductions and Increments in Plasma Nitric Oxide Bioavailability.

This study analyzed the effects of 12 weeks of resistance training (RT) on resting blood pressure (BP) and plasma levels of nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in pre- and hypertensive older women, and evaluated the relationship between these 2 parameters. Thirty-five older women (68.2±5.7 years, 70.0±14.4 kg, 157.1±6.4 cm, 28.3±5.0 kg.m-2) were randomly allocated into a training group (TG; n=17), which performed a 12-week RT program, and a control group (CG; n=18), which did not perform any physical exercise. Anthropometry, one repetition maximum (1RM), body composition analysis by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, blood samples, and resting BP were measured. There was a significant interaction for all variables analyzed, in which reductions of systolic BP (-8.5%), diastolic BP (-8.4%), and mean arterial pressure (-8.5%), and increases of NOx (+35.2%) were observed only for the TG. Moreover, a negative and significant correlation was observed (P<0.05; r=-0.63) between NOx and systolic BP in the TG. Results suggest that a 12-week RT program is sufficient to induce reductions in BP in pre- and hypertensive older women and that the decrease in systolic BP is associated with an increase in plasma NOx concentration.

Long-term creatine supplementation improves muscular performance during resistance training in older women.

This study examined the effects of long-term creatine supplementation combined with resistance training (RT) on the one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength, motor functional performance (e.g., 30-s chair stand, arm curl, and getting up from lying on the floor tests) and body composition (e.g., fat-free mass, muscle mass, and % body fat using DEXA scans) in older women. Eighteen healthy women (64.9 ± 5.0 years) were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to either a creatine (CR, N = 9) or placebo (PL, N = 9) group. Both groups underwent a 12-week RT program (3 days week(-1)), consuming an equivalent amount of either creatine (5.0 g day(-1)) or placebo (maltodextrin). After 12 week, the CR group experienced a greater (P < 0.05) increase (Δ%) in training volume (+164.2), and 1RM bench press (+5.1), knee extension (+3.9) and biceps curl (+8.8) performance than the PL group. Furthermore, CR group gained significantly more fat-free mass (+3.2) and muscle mass (+2.8) and were more efficient in performing submaximal-strength functional tests than the PL group. No changes (P > 0.05) in body mass or % body fat were observed from pre- to post-test in either group. These results indicate that long-term creatine supplementation combined with RT improves the ability to perform submaximal-strength functional tasks and promotes a greater increase in maximal strength, fat-free mass and muscle mass in older women.

Highly specific changes in antioxidant levels and lipid peroxidation in Parkinson's disease and its progression: Disease and staging biomarkers and new drug targets.

There is evidence that immune-inflammatory, stress of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (IO&NS) processes play a role in the neurodegenerative processes observed in Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of the present study was to investigate peripheral IO&NS biomarkers in PD. We included 56 healthy individuals and 56 PD patients divided in two groups: early PD stage and late PD stage. Plasma lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), sulfhydryl (SH) groups, catalase (CAT) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, paraoxonase (PON)1 activity, total radical trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. PD is characterized by increased LOOH, MDA and SOD activity and lowered CAT activity. A combination of five O&NS biomarkers highly significantly predicts PD with a sensitivity of 94.5% and a specificity of 86.8% (i.e., MDA, SOD activity, TRAP, SH-groups and CAT activity). The single best biomarker of PD is MDA, while LOOH and SOD activity are significantly associated with late PD stage, but not early PD stage. Antiparkinson drugs did not affect O&NS biomarkers, but levodopa+carbidopa significantly increased CRP. It is suggested that MDA may serve as a disease biomarker, while LOOH and SOD activity are associated with late PD stage characteristic. New treatments for PD should not only target dopamine but also lipid peroxidation.

Chronic resistance training does not affect post-exercise blood pressure in normotensive older women: a randomized controlled trial.

Resistance training has been recommended for maintenance or improvement of the functional health of older adults, but its effect on acute cardiovascular responses remains unclear. Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of 12 weeks of resistance training on post-exercise blood pressure (BP) in normotensive older women. Twenty-eight normotensive and physically inactive women (≥ 60 years) were randomly assigned to a training group (TG) or a control group (CG). The TG underwent a resistance training program (12 weeks, 8 exercises, 2 sets, 10-15 repetitions, 3 days/week), while the CG performed stretching exercises (12 weeks, 2 sets, 20 s each, 2 days/week). At baseline and after the intervention, participants were randomly submitted to two experimental sessions: a resistance exercise session (7 exercises, 2 sets, 10-15 repetitions) and a control session. BP was obtained pre- and post-sessions (90 min), through auscultation. Post-exercise hypotension was observed for systolic, diastolic, and mean BP in the TG (-6.1, -3.4, and -4.3 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05) and in the CG (-4.1, -0.7, and -1.8 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05). After the intervention period, the magnitude and pattern of this phenomenon for systolic, diastolic, and mean BP were similar between groups (TG -8.8, -4.1, and -5.7 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05 vs CG -11.1, -5.8, and -7.6 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05). These results indicate that a single session of resistance exercise promotes reduction in post-exercise BP and 12 weeks of resistance training program do not change the occurrence or magnitude of this hypotension. (ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT02346981).