Effect of chocolate on older patients with cancer in palliative care: a randomised controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Older advanced stage cancer patients, with changes in nutritional status, represent an important demand for palliative care. The aim was to determine the effects of 4 weeks of chocolate consumption on the nutritional status of older cancer patients in palliative care. METHODS: Older cancer patients in palliative care with ambulatory (n = 46) monitoring were randomized to control (CG, n = 15), intervention with 55% cocoa chocolate (IG1, n = 16) and intervention with white chocolate (IG2, n = 15) groups and evaluated before and after 4 weeks for nutritional status (primary outcome), evaluated by the Mini Nutritional Assessment tool (MNA). Food consumption, anthropometry, body composition, laboratory parameters and quality of life (QL) with the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer instrument were also evaluated. RESULTS: IG1 progressed with increased screening (estimated difference [95% CI]: - 1.3 [- 2.2;-0.4], p < 0.01), and nutritional (estimated difference [95% CI]: - 1.3 [- 2.5;-0.1], p = 0.04) scores on the MNA, with no change in anthropometry and body composition. Regarding antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione levels increased (estimated difference [95% CI]: - 0.8 [- 1.6;-0.02], p = 0.04) and malondealdehyde levels decreased in IG2 (estimated difference [95% CI]:+ 4.9 [+ 0.7;+ 9.1], p = 0.02). Regarding QL, functionality improved in IG1, with higher score in the functional domain (estimated difference [95% CI]:-7.0 [- 13.3;-0.7], p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of chocolate with a greater cocoa content may contribute to the improvement of the nutritional status and functionality among older cancer patients in palliative care. The consumption of white chocolate was associated with improved oxidative stress. TRIAL REGISTRATION: A randomized clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04367493 ).

Older Adult Cancer Patients Under Palliative Care With a Prognosis of 30 Days or More: Clinical and Nutritional Changes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize nutritional status, body composition, oxidative stress, and inflammatory activity and to determine the possible associations between nutritional status and clinical variables in advanced cancer patients.Method: This was a cross-sectional study of 46 elderly cancer patients under palliative care with a prognosis of 30 days or more. Nutritional status, food intake, anthropometry, body composition (deuterium oxide method), metabolic profile, inflammation damage (C-reactive protein), oxidative damage (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine), and symptom intensity were evaluated.Results: Among elderly cancer patients, 36.9% were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Systemic inflammation was detected, with a correlation between worse nutritional status and higher C-reactive protein levels (p < 0.01, r= -0.57), while lower lean mass (p < 0.01, r = 0.62) and higher fat mass percentages (p < 0.01, r = 0.62) correlated with higher levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine. Furthermore, daily energy (n = 25; 57.4%) and protein intake (n = 24; 52.2%) were lower than recommended in more than half the patients. The most prevalent symptoms were anxiety, impairment of well-being, drowsiness, tiredness, and lack of appetite.Conclusions: Despite preserved functionality, patients already had clinical and laboratory changes that, together with inadequate food intake, risk of malnutrition, systemic inflammation, and the presence of uncontrolled symptoms, alerted to the importance of an early and comprehensive palliative approach.

Impact of the severity of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease on the gustatory sensitivity of older persons.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between the severity of dementia and taste recognition abilities in older persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: Anthropometric measurements were performed and body mass index was used to determine the nutritional status. The taste strips were used to test gustatory functions of the five basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami). RESULTS: A total of 30 healthy younger subjects, 30 healthy older subjects, 37 with mild stage AD and 23 with moderate stage AD were recruited. The older subjects with moderate AD showed a significant reduction of taste, less recognition of bitter and salty taste (score: 10.6 ± 2.6; 2.6 ± 0.9; 1.7 ± 1.5) when compared to older people without cognitive impairment (score: 13.3 ± 1.8; 3.4 ± 0.9; 3.2 ± 0.9), and less recognition of sweet taste (score: 2.9 ± 1.2) when compared to subjects with mild stage AD (score: 3.6 ± 0.8). Impaired recognition of salty taste was detected since the early stages of AD. Among the factors that possibly influence gustatory function, a significant correlation was detected between taste ability and age, medication intake, mini-mental state examination and the nutritional status. CONCLUSION: The severity of dementia is directly associated with greater impairment of taste sensitivity, especially among older subjects with moderate stage disease.

Mood, lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors among older caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Caregivers may have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and have high rates of anxiety and depression. AIMS: The objective of this study was to evaluate mood, lifestyle and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors in older women caregivers of patients with Alzheimer´s disease (AD) dementia compared to non-caregivers living in the neighborhood. METHODS: Paired case-control (1:1). Volunteers responded to a questionnaire with information about physical and leisure activities, smoking, alcohol use, and daily hours of care. Blood pressure (BP) was measured on 5 days with the Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (HBPM) system, and mood was assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Laboratory testing for cardiovascular risk factors was performed. RESULTS: Sixty-two volunteers were evaluated. Total cholesterol levels were higher among caregivers, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.57 (95% CI 1.2-11, p = 0.03). There was no difference in BP. A positive screening for depression was obtained for 58% of caregivers and for 16% of control subjects (OR = 6.62, 95% CI 1.9-22.6, p < 0.01). The MINI revealed that 38.7% of caregivers had an actual depressive episode as compared to 9.7% of controls (9.7%) (OR = 5.42, 95% CI 1.3-22.7, p = 0.02); 35.5% of caregivers and 6% of controls had a diagnosis of anxiety disorder (OR = 4.79, 95% CI 1.2-19.1, p = 0.03). DISCUSSION: The cardiovascular risk markers and lifestyle were similar in caregivers and non-caregivers, but there was a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety among caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Older women caregivers of patients with AD have more mental health symptoms and disorders and need to be treated.

Resistance Exercise Training Is More Effective than Interval Aerobic Training in Reducing Blood Pressure During Sleep in Hypertensive Elderly Patients.

Bertani, RF, Campos, GO, Perseguin, DM, Bonardi, JMT, Ferriolli, E, Moriguti, JC, and Lima, NKC. Resistance exercise training is more effective than interval aerobic training in reducing blood pressure during sleep in hypertensive elderly patients. J Strength Cond Res 32(7): 2085-2090, 2018-An appropriate fall in blood pressure (BP) during sleep is known to be related to a lower cardiovascular risk. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of different types of training on hypertensive elderly patients under treatment in terms of pressure variability assessed by the nocturnal decline in BP. Hypertensive elderly subjects under pharmacological treatment were randomly assigned to the following groups: 12 weeks of continuous aerobic training, interval aerobic training (IA), resistance training (R), or control (C). All subjects underwent ambulatory BP monitoring before and 24 hours after the last exercise session. The results were assessed using the mixed effects model. A greater nocturnal decline in diastolic BP compared with the wakefulness period was observed in R in comparison with C (11.0 ± 4.1 vs. 6.0 ± 5.7 mm Hg and p = 0.01) and with IA (11.0 ± 4. vs. 6.5 ± 5.1 mm Hg and p = 0.02). No fall in BP during a 24-hour period was observed in training groups compared with C, perhaps because the subjects were mostly nondippers, for whom the effect of training on BP is found to be lower. In conclusion, resistance training promoted a greater nocturnal fall in BP among hypertensive elderly subjects under treatment compared with IA subjects.

Cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory activity among centenarians with and without dementia.

A better knowledge of the differences existing between individuals who maintain cognition up to 100 years of age or more and those of the same age who present dementia syndrome may be of help in understanding the dementia of the very elderly people. The aim of this study was to assess cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers among centenarians with and without dementia. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on centenarians residing in a middle-size city. Volunteers were evaluated by comprehensive geriatric assessment at home. General laboratory examinations were performed and cardiovascular risk and inflammatory activity markers were determined. Mean subject age was 101 ± 2 years, and 82 % were women. Assessment of dementia syndrome revealed that 36.4 % of the centenarians had preserved cognition. Centenarians with dementia had lower schooling (p < 0.01), lower body mass index (p = 0.02) and higher homocysteine levels (p < 0.01) and tended to have a lower systolic blood pressure (p = 0.05). Regarding the markers of inflammatory activity, demented subjects had high levels of interleukin-6 (p < 0.01), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.02), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.01) and lower albumin levels (p = 0.02) compared to centenarians without dementia. Concluding, centenarians with preserved cognition had better nutritional status, lower homocysteinemia, tendency to higher blood pressure and lower inflammatory activity compared to demented subjects.

Effect of aerobic training and aerobic and resistance training on the inflammatory status of hypertensive older adults.

There is a relationship between high levels of inflammatory markers and low adhesion to the practice of physical activity in the older population. The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of two types of exercise programs, i.e., aerobic training and aerobic plus resistance training on the plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) of elderly hypertensive subjects. Hypertensive older volunteers in use of antihypertensive drugs were randomized to three groups: aerobic group (AG), resistance and aerobic group (RAG) and control group (CG). Training lasted 10 weeks, with sessions held three times a week. Blood samples were collected before training and 24 h after completion of the 30 sessions for the determination of serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels. Body mass index was obtained before and after 10 weeks. After intervention, BMI values were lower in AG and RAG compared to CG (p < 0.001), IL-6 was reduced in AG compared to CG (p = 0.04), and TNF-α levels were lower only in RAG compared to CG (p = 0.01). Concluding, both types of training were effective in reducing BMI values in hypertensive older subjects. Aerobic exercise produced the reduction of plasma IL-6 levels. However, the combination of aerobic and resistance exercise, which would be more indicated for the prevention of loss of functionality with aging, showed lower TNF-α mediator after training than control group and a greater fall of TNF-α levels associated to higher BMI reduction.

Lymphocytes of patients with Alzheimer's disease display different DNA damage repair kinetics and expression profiles of DNA repair and stress response genes.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by loss of memory and cognitive capacity. Given the limitations to analyze brain cells, it is important to study whether peripheral lymphocytes can provide biological markers for AD, an interesting approach, once they represent the overall condition of the organism. To that extent, we sought to find whether lymphocytes of AD patients present DNA damage and repair kinetics different from those found in elderly matched controls (EC group) under in vitro treatment with hydrogen peroxide. We found that AD patient cells indeed showed an altered DNA repair kinetics (comet assay). Real-time quantitative analysis of genes associated with DNA stress response also showed that FANCG and CDKN1A are upregulated in AD, while MTH1 is downregulated, compared with the control group. In contrast, the expression of ATM, ATR and FEN1 genes does not seem to differ between these groups. Interestingly, TP53 protein expression was increased in AD patients. Therefore, we found that kinetics of the stress response in the DNA were significantly different in AD patients, supporting the hypothesis that repair pathways may be compromised in AD and that peripheral lymphocytes can reveal this condition.

The effect of different volumes of acute resistance exercise on elderly individuals with treated hypertension.

Acute resistance exercise can reduce the blood pressure (BP) of hypertensive subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different volumes of acute low-intensity resistance exercise over the magnitude and the extent of BP changes in treated hypertensive elderly individuals. Sixteen participants (7 men, 9 women), with mean age of 68 ± 5 years, performed 3 independent randomized sessions: Control (C: 40 minutes of rest), Exercise 1 (E1: 20 minutes, 1 lap in the circuit), and Exercise 2 (E2: 40 minutes, 2 laps in the circuit) with the intensity of 40% of 1 repetition maximum. Blood pressure was measured before (during 20 minutes) and after each session (every 5 minutes during 60 minutes) using both a mercury sphygmomanometer and a semiautomatic device (Omrom-HEM-431). After that, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed (Dyna-MAPA). Blood pressure decreased during the first 60 minutes (systolic: p < 0.01, diastolic: p < 0.05) after all exercise sessions. Only the highest volume session promoted a reduction of mean systolic 24-hour BP and awake BP (p < 0.05) after exercise, with higher diastolic BP during sleep (p < 0.05). Diastolic 24-hour BP and both systolic and diastolic BP during sleep were higher after E1 (p < 0.05). Concluding, acute resistive exercise sessions in a circuit with different volumes reduced BP during the first 60 minutes after exercise in elderly individuals with treated hypertension. However, only the highest volume promoted a reduction of mean 24-hour and awake systolic BP.

Acute effects of different types of exercise on the blood pressure of hypertensive older women: a randomized study.

BACKGROUND: The magnitude and duration of the hypotensive effect of exercise may be influence by the type of exercise performed. The aim of the present study was to compare systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure for 24 hours after a single session of continuous aerobic (CA), interval aerobic (IA), resistance (RE) exercise and control (C), among hypertensive older women under treatment. METHODS: The study was conducted on 30 women aged 67.5±5.2 years participating in all sessions applied in random order. After each session, blood pressure was obtained by an oscillometric device and they were submitted to 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. RESULTS: Immediately after the sessions, a lower SBP value was observed in groups CA and IA compared to groups C and RE. During the 24 hours after sessions, there was a greater reduction of SBP after IA than after other types of exercise, with the reduction after RE being greater than after CA and C (P<0.01). In wakefulness period, the reduction of SBP after IA was more intensive, and, during sleep, IA and RE promoted greater reductions of SBP, with reduction of DBP only after RE (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Immediately after the exercise sessions there was a fall in SBP only after aerobic exercises. However, aerobic exercise in the interval mode and RE were more effective in reducing BP over a period of 24 hours.

Under-reporting of food intake is frequent among Brazilian free-living older persons: a doubly labelled water study.

The assessment of food intake is essential for the development of dietetic interventions. Accuracy is low when intake is assessed by questionnaires, the under-reporting of food intake being frequent. Most such studies, however, were performed in developed countries and there is little data about the older population of developing nations. This study aimed to verify the total energy expenditure (TEE) of independent older Brazilians living in an urban area, through the doubly labelled water (DLW) method and to compare it with the reported energy intake obtained through the application of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Initially, 100 volunteers aged from 60 to 75 years had their body composition determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Five volunteers of each quartile of body fat percentage had their energy expenditure determined by DLW. The mean age of the subjects included in this phase of the study was 66.4 +/- 3.5 years, and ten of the subjects were men. The mean TEE was 2565 +/- 614 and 2154 +/- 339 kcal.day(-1) for men and women, respectively. The Physical Activity Level (PAL) was 1.58 +/- 0.31 and 1.52 +/- 0.22, respectively. Under-reporting of food intake was highly prevalent, with a mean percentage of reported intake in relation to measured TEE of -17.7%. Thus, under-reporting of food intake is highly prevalent among Brazilian independent older persons. The DLW method is an important tool in nutritional studies and its use is to be recommended in developing countries.

Comparison of body composition analysis methods among centenary women: Seeking simpler methods.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the most commonly used body composition tools in clinical practice, such as anthropometry and electrical bioimpedance, and compare it with deuterium oxide. METHODS: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted on women aged 100 years or above at home. Body composition was determined by measuring skinfolds (Jackson and Pollock and Durnin and Womersley equations), by bioimpedance, and by the deuterium oxide method. RESULTS: Body mass index values were lower than 22 kg/m2 in 64% of the subjects. When the various methods used were compared with deuterium oxide, there was better agreement for the determination of fat mass than lean mass. For fat mass, agreement was better when using bioimpedance (Lin's coefficient = 0.70), whereas for lean mass, agreement was better using the Durnin and Womersley equation (Lin's coefficient = 0.51). CONCLUSION: It is possible to use bioimpedance and skinfolds to evaluate fat mass and lean mass, respectively, in centenarians.

Biological predictors shared by dementia and bullous pemphigoid patients point out a cross-antigenicity between BP180/BP230 brain and skin isoforms.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) following dementia diagnosis has been reported in the elderly. Skin and brain tissues express BP180 and BP230 isoforms. Dementia has been associated with rs6265 (Val66Met) polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene and low serum BDNF. Here we investigated a possible cross-antigenicity between BP180/BP230 brain and skin isoforms. We assessed antibodies against BP180/BP230 and BDNF levels by ELISA and BDNF Val66Met SNP by PCR in three groups: 50 BP patients, 50 patients with dementia, and 50 elderly controls. Heatmap hierarchical clustering and data mining decision tree were used to analyze the patients' demographic and laboratorial data as predictors of dementia-BP association. Sixteen percent of BP patients with the lowest serological BDNF presented dementia-BP clinical association. Anti-BP180/230 positivity was unexpected observed among dementia patients (10%, 10%) and controls (14%, 1%). Indirect immunofluorescence using healthy human skin showed a BP pattern in two of 10 samples containing antibodies against BP180/BP230 obtained from dementia group but not in the control samples. Neither allelic nor genotypic BDNF Val66Met SNP was associated with dementia or with BP (associated or not with clinical manifestation of dementia). Heatmap analysis was able to differentiate the three studied groups and confirmed the ELISA results. The comprehensive data mining analysis revealed that BP patients and dementia patients shared biological predictors that justified the dementia-BP association. Autoantibodies against the BP180/BP230 brain isoforms produced by dementia patients could cross-react with the BP180/BP230 skin isoforms, which could justify cases of dementia preceding the BP disease.

Cognitive Decline in Adults Aged 65 and Older in Cumbayá, Quito, Ecuador: Prevalence and Risk Factors.

Objective To assess the prevalence of and risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia in individuals greater than 65 years of age in Cumbayá, Quito, Ecuador. Methods This is a cross-sectional observational study that was carried out in adults over age 65. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Ascertain Dementia Eight-Item Informant Questionnaire (AD8), and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) were used to assess the cognitive status and nutritional habits of this population. Results A total of 144 patients (mean age 75.3 years, 77.1% female) participated in this study. Forty percent of patients had AD8 and MMSE scores consistent with cognitive impairment and possible dementia. Age (p < 0.01), lower educational level (p < 0.01), history of stroke (p < 0.01), history of intracerebral hemorrhage (p < 0.01), diabetes mellitus (p < 0.01), and malnutrition (p < 0.01) were statistically significant risk factors for cognitive impairment. Exercise was found to be protective against cognitive decline in our study group (p < 0.03). Gender, ethnicity, location, head trauma, Parkinson disease, hypercholesterolemia, myocardial infarction, thyroid disease, depression, anxiety, and family history of dementia were not found to be associated with cognitive decline in this population. Conclusions The prevalence of cognitive impairment and possible dementia is 18-21% at age 65 and 54-60% at age 85 in Cumbayá, Quito, Ecuador. The major risk factors for cognitive impairment in this population are age, low educational level, malnutrition, prior stroke, prior intracerebral hemorrhage, and diabetes. Protective factors for cognitive decline include exercise and possibly modest consumption of alcohol.

Combined aerobic and resistance training: are there additional benefits for older hypertensive adults?

OBJECTIVES:: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of a combination of aerobic and resistance training to those of isolated aerobic training on blood pressure, body composition, and insulin sensitivity in hypertensive older adults. METHOD:: Forty-four patients were randomly assigned to the aerobic group, resistance and aerobic group, and control group. Before and after 10 weeks, the following data were obtained: 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure data, abdominal circumference, waist circumference, body mass index, lean mass, fat mass, and insulin sensitivity. The study was conducted with 3 training sessions per week. RESULTS:: Comparison revealed significant reductions in the body mass index, abdominal and waist circumferences, and ambulatory blood pressure (24-hour, wakefulness and sleep systolic/diastolic blood pressures) in both the aerobic group and the resistance and aerobic (combined) group. The fat mass only changed in the combined group. There was no difference in the insulin sensitivity in any group. CONCLUSIONS:: The combined treatment and aerobic treatment alone were equally effective in reducing the blood pressure, body mass index, and abdominal and waist circumferences, although the addition of the resistance component also helped reduce the fat mass.

One repetition maximum test in octogenarian: evaluation of blood pressure.

BACKGROUND: The gold standard for resistance training prescription is the one repetition maximum strength test (1RM). However, there are fears that, by making maximum effort, octogenarian may elevate their blood pressure (BP). METHODS: Forty subjects (25 women) aged 83.3±3.2 years underwent two days of office BP measurements (V1 and V2). On the 1RM test day, measurements were performed before (BASAL) and after (POST) test. 1RM tests were performed in the Seated Chest Press (SCP), Leg Press (LP) and Seated Back Row (SBR), with BP measurements immediately after (1RM) and one minute after (1RM(1')) each exercise. RESULTS: Maximum systolic BP (SBP) in the SCP was 137 mmHg in 1RM, with no difference compared to V1 (P=0.29). In LP, maximum SBP was 143 mmHg in 1RM(1'), but BP came down quickly, with SBP in POST equal to V1 (P=0.95). There were differences over time in SBR (P<0.01), but SBP in 1RM and in 1RM(1') was similar to V1 (P=0.20). There was a small difference in diastolic BP over time. CONCLUSIONS: There was a moderate SBP increase in 1RMand 1RM(1'), with emphasis on the LP. In general, BP after 1RM did not differ from the first assessment day.

Uncontrolled hypertension in older patients: markers and associated factors to masked and white-coat effect.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, affecting more than half the elderly population. It is essential to know if they have proper control of hypertension. The aim of this study was to identify the associated factors to masked uncontrolled hypertension and false uncontrolled hypertension in older patients. METHODS: Two-hundred seventy-three individuals (70.1 ± 6.7 years-old) had blood pressure (BP) measured at the office and by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), with the definition of controlled group (C), individuals with high office BP and adequate ABPM, called white-coat effect group (WCE), uncontrolled (UC), and subjects with appropriate office BP and elevated ABPM denominated masked effect group (ME). Age, body mass index, diabetes, pulse pressure (PP) and BP dipping during sleep were evaluated (Kruskal-Wallis test and logistic regression models). RESULTS: Age was higher in UC than in C and ME (P < 0.01), and 24-h ABPM PP was lower in C (48 ± 7 mmHg) and WCE (51 ± 6 mmHg) than in UC (67 ± 12 mmHg) and ME (59 ± 8 mmHg) (P < 0.01). Sleep systolic BP dipping was lower in ME than in C (P = 0.03). Female gender was associated with a greater chance of being of ME group, which showed a higher PP and lower BP dipping during sleep. CONCLUSIONS: In older individuals, office BP measurements did not allow the detection of associated factors that would permit to differentiate WCE from UC group and C from ME group. ABPM favored the identification of a higher PP and a lower BP dipping during sleep in the masked effect and uncontrolled groups.

Effect of different types of exercise on sleep quality of elderly subjects.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: There are still many gaps in research concerning the effect of different physical training modalities on sleep quality in the elderly population. Thus, the objective of the present study was to compare the quality of sleep of hypertensive elderly subjects submitted to two types of training (ie, aerobic exercise alone or combined aerobic and resistance training). PATIENTS/METHODS: Participants aged 60-75 years were randomized to three groups: aerobic group (AG), combined aerobic and resistance group (ARG), and control untrained group (CG). Training lasted ten consecutive weeks with 30 uninterrupted sessions. The actigraph (Actiwatch Minimitter Company, INC - Sunriver, OR, USA) was placed on the non-dominant wrist and activities were monitored continuously while being recorded at one minute intervals. The participants kept the device for a period of 96 hours before the first and last training sessions. RESULTS: There was a reduction in sleep fragmentation index of 18.9 for AG and 13 for ARG (p < 0.01) and the sleep efficacy was improved in the exercise groups, with a 5.6% increase for AG (p = 0.02) and a 6.1% increase for ARG (p = 0.01). After training, percentage of minutes motionless was increased by 8.2% for AG and by 6.9% for ARG (p < 0.01), indicating improved sleep quality. A reduction in total activity score during sleep was observed for AG and ARG (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The two types of exercise performed for ten weeks similarly improved sleep quality, thus reducing the fragmentation index, the percentage of minutes in motion and total activity score, and increasing sleep efficacy.

Body composition, muscle strength and quality of active elderly women according to the distance covered in the 6-minute walk test.

BACKGROUND: Changes arising from the aging process, particularly changes in body composition, contribute to the functional decline of the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To compare the body composition and muscle strength, mobility and quality in active elderly women according to the distance walked during the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). METHOD: The study included 77 active elderly women aged 65 to 80 years, who were divided into tertiles (A, B and C) according to the distance covered in the 6MWT. We performed anthropometric and clinical evaluations. Body composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured with a portable dynamometer (Saehan), and knee extension strength (KES) was measured with the one repetition maximum test (1-RM). Functional mobility was assessed by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and body balance was assessed by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Muscle quality was defined by the ratio between muscle strength (kgf) and muscle mass (kg). RESULTS: The group that walked the shortest distance in the 6MWT had a higher BMI (A=30.8±7.0, B=27.2±4.2 and C=25.9±3.5 kg/m2), greater amount of fat mass (A=31.3±10.7, B=25.9±6.7 and C=23.81±6.46 kg) lower HGS (A=21.8±5.1, B=22.1±3.5 and C=25.5±5.1 kgf), lower knee extension strength (A=30.6±10.9, B=40.4±12.5 and C=47.2±10.1 kgf), lower arm muscle quality (A=10.1±3.7, B=11.6±2 and C=12.7±2.2 kg) and lower leg muscle quality (A=1.78±1, B=2.84±0.98 and C=3.31±0.77 kg). There was no significant difference between muscle mass (p=0.25) and lean mass (p=0.26). CONCLUSION: Body fat has a negative influence on functional performance, even among active elderly women.

Effect of a single session of aerobic walking exercise on arterial pressure in community-living elderly individuals.

Several studies have demonstrated that one exercise session (ES) on a cycloergometer or ergometric treadmill causes a reduction in blood pressure (BP). However, there are few similar studies on walking, which is the exercise modality most available to the elderly. We investigated the immediate and 24-h effects of walking on BP in independent, community-living elderly individuals. Volunteers participated in a single ES and resting control session (CS). Before and after each session, BP was measured by auscultatory and oscillometric methods. After each session, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was conducted. An accelerometer was installed 48 h before the sessions and left in place for 5 days. The mean volunteer age was 67.7±3.5 years; 11 were hypertensive patients under treatment, and 12 were normotensive. In the total sample, there were immediate 14mm Hg and 12 mm Hg reductions in systolic BP (SBP) after the ES according to the auscultatory and oscillometric methods, respectively. Diastolic BP (DBP) was reduced by 4 mm Hg after the ES according to both methods. SBP during wakefulness and sleep and DBP during wakefulness were lower after the ES than after the CS (P<0.01), when wakefulness and sleep were determined individually (variable-time pattern) using data from the activity monitors and provided by the volunteers. The variable-time pattern was more effective in detecting reductions in BP than the fixed-time pattern.