A Study of Changes of Physical Functions According to Changes in Cognitive Functions in Community-Dwelling Elderly People Who Participated in an Exercise Program.

Although it is known that physical function differs depending on the state of cognitive function, there are no studies that consider changes in cognitive functions when evaluating physical functions of participants before and after an exercise program. In this study, it was observed changes in cognitive function and physical functions of elderly people who participated in a community-based exercise program for 6 months, and examined changes in physical functions that took into account changes in cognitive functions. Forty-nine participants, whose cognitive and physical functions were both measured before and after the exercise program, were included in the analysis. The Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J) was used to assess participants' cognitive function and to determine whether they had mild cognitive impairment (MCI). To assess physical functions, a battery of physical tests was completed. Participants were classified into four groups (before/after; non-MCI/non-MCI, MCI/MCI, non-MCI/MCI, and MCI/non-MCI) according to the changes in cognitive functions after six months. There was no significant difference in the physical functions of the four groups before the start of the program. When changes in physical functions were examined in each group, some changes in physical functions were observed in the groups other than the non-MCI/MCI group. However, there was no significant difference in the physical functions between the four groups after the program. It was suggested that changes in physical functions of elderly people who participated in a community-based exercise program over a 6-month period were not different due to changes in cognitive functions.

Cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults participating in synchronized swimming-exercise.

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to examine cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults regularly engaging in synchronized swimming-exercise. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-three female synchronized swimmers ranging in age from 49 to 85 years were recruited for the present study. The duration of synchronized swimming experience ranged from 1 to 39 years. The control group consisted of 36 age- and gender-matched community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults (age range: 49 to 77 years). Cognitive function was evaluated using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J) and compared between the synchronized swimmers and control participants. [Results] No significant differences in mean total MoCA-J scores were observed between the synchronized swimmers and control participants (23.2 ± 3.1 and 22.2 ± 3.6, respectively). Twenty-nine subjects in the control group and 17 in the synchronized swimming group scored below 26 on the MoCA-J, indicative of mild cognitive impairment. Significant differences in delayed recall-but not in visuospatial/executive function, naming, attention, language, abstraction, or orientation-were also observed between the two groups. [Conclusion] The results of the present study suggest that synchronized swimming has beneficial effects on cognitive function, particularly with regard to recent memory.