Effect of multimodal exercise training on physical fitness indices, cognitive status, and depressive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, low levels of physical fitness (PF) and cognitive status are associated with high rates of depression. However, this condition can be improved through physical training. Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of multimodal exercise training (MET) on aerobic endurance, muscular strength, agility, dynamic balance, cognitive status, and depressive symptoms in men with mild-to-moderate AD. Methods: A total of 25 elderly men with a diagnosis of mild-to-moderate AD were randomly categorized into an MET or a control group. The subjects in the MET group participated in a 12-week, three sessions per week MET program that included resistance, balance, and aerobic exercises. While the participants in the control group did not perform any regular exercise training during this period. Patients' cognitive status and depressive symptoms were assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination and the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) questionnaires. PF indicators such as aerobic endurance, muscular strength, agility, and dynamic balance, as well as cognitive status and depressive symptoms, were taken from all the subjects before and after MET. Results: The participants in the MET group improved handgrip, upper and lower body strength, agility, dynamic balance, and depressive symptoms (p<0.05). The intervention had no significant effect on aerobic endurance and cognitive status (p>0.05). Conclusions: MET is an effective strategy to improve muscular strength, agility, dynamic balance, and depressive symptoms in men with mild-to-moderate AD. It is recommended for AD patients to engage in this type of exercise to reduce AD complications.

Em pacientes com Alzheimer, baixos níveis de aptidão física (AF) e estado cognitivo estão associados a altas taxas de depressão. Essa condição, no entanto, pode ser melhorada através do treinamento físico. Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar o efeito do treinamento multimodal (TMM) de resistência aeróbica, força muscular, agilidade, equilíbrio dinâmico, estado cognitivo e sintomas depressivos em homens com doença de Alzheimer (DA) leve a moderada. Métodos: 25 homens idosos com diagnóstico de DA leve a moderada foram divididos aleatoriamente em um grupo TMM ou controle. Os indivíduos do grupo TMM participaram de um programa de TMM de 12 semanas, três sessões/semana, que incluía exercícios de resistência, equilíbrio e aeróbicos, enquanto os participantes do grupo controle não realizaram nenhum treinamento regular de exercícios durante esse período. O estado cognitivo e os sintomas depressivos dos pacientes foram avaliados pelos questionários Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) e Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15). Indicadores de AF, como resistência aeróbica, força muscular, agilidade e equilíbrio dinâmico, bem como estado cognitivo e sintomas depressivos, foram obtidos de todos os sujeitos antes e depois do TMM. Resultados: Os participantes do grupo TMM melhoraram a preensão manual e força de membros superiores e inferiores, agilidade, equilíbrio dinâmico e sintomas depressivos (p<0,05). A intervenção não teve efeito significativo na resistência aeróbica e no estado cognitivo (p>0,05). Conclusões: O TMM é uma estratégia eficaz para melhorar a força muscular, agilidade, equilíbrio dinâmico e sintomas depressivos em homens com DA leve a moderada. Recomenda-se que os pacientes com Alzheimer pratiquem esse tipo de exercício para reduzir as complicações da DA.

Combined Physical Training Strategies Improve Physical Fitness, Behavior, and Social Skills of Autistic Children.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of combined physical training (CPT) on social skills and physical fitness (PF) in children with ASD. Sixteen children with autism (age 6-10 years) were randomly assigned into two groups: CPT and control. The CPT group participated in a program involving ball game, rhythmic movements, and resistance training for eight weeks (three sessions per week). PF and behavior profile were assessed before and after training. CPT program had a significant effect on indicators of social skills such as stereotypic behavior and communication, as well as PF such as handgrip strength, upper and lower body power, flexibility, balance, and agility (P < 0.05). CPT in autistic children can improve indicators of social skills and PF.

Effect of multimodal exercise training on physical fitness indices, cognitive status, and depressive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease / O efeito do treinamento multimodal em índices de aptidão física, estado cognitivo e sintomas depressivos na doença de Alzheimer

ABSTRACT. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, low levels of physical fitness (PF) and cognitive status are associated with high rates of depression. However, this condition can be improved through physical training. Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of multimodal exercise training (MET) on aerobic endurance, muscular strength, agility, dynamic balance, cognitive status, and depressive symptoms in men with mild-to-moderate AD. Methods: A total of 25 elderly men with a diagnosis of mild-to-moderate AD were randomly categorized into an MET or a control group. The subjects in the MET group participated in a 12-week, three sessions per week MET program that included resistance, balance, and aerobic exercises. While the participants in the control group did not perform any regular exercise training during this period. Patients' cognitive status and depressive symptoms were assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination and the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) questionnaires. PF indicators such as aerobic endurance, muscular strength, agility, and dynamic balance, as well as cognitive status and depressive symptoms, were taken from all the subjects before and after MET. Results: The participants in the MET group improved handgrip, upper and lower body strength, agility, dynamic balance, and depressive symptoms (p<0.05). The intervention had no significant effect on aerobic endurance and cognitive status (p>0.05). Conclusions: MET is an effective strategy to improve muscular strength, agility, dynamic balance, and depressive symptoms in men with mild-to-moderate AD. It is recommended for AD patients to engage in this type of exercise to reduce AD complications.

RESUMO. Em pacientes com Alzheimer, baixos níveis de aptidão física (AF) e estado cognitivo estão associados a altas taxas de depressão. Essa condição, no entanto, pode ser melhorada através do treinamento físico. Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar o efeito do treinamento multimodal (TMM) de resistência aeróbica, força muscular, agilidade, equilíbrio dinâmico, estado cognitivo e sintomas depressivos em homens com doença de Alzheimer (DA) leve a moderada. Métodos: 25 homens idosos com diagnóstico de DA leve a moderada foram divididos aleatoriamente em um grupo TMM ou controle. Os indivíduos do grupo TMM participaram de um programa de TMM de 12 semanas, três sessões/semana, que incluía exercícios de resistência, equilíbrio e aeróbicos, enquanto os participantes do grupo controle não realizaram nenhum treinamento regular de exercícios durante esse período. O estado cognitivo e os sintomas depressivos dos pacientes foram avaliados pelos questionários Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) e Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15). Indicadores de AF, como resistência aeróbica, força muscular, agilidade e equilíbrio dinâmico, bem como estado cognitivo e sintomas depressivos, foram obtidos de todos os sujeitos antes e depois do TMM. Resultados: Os participantes do grupo TMM melhoraram a preensão manual e força de membros superiores e inferiores, agilidade, equilíbrio dinâmico e sintomas depressivos (p<0,05). A intervenção não teve efeito significativo na resistência aeróbica e no estado cognitivo (p>0,05). Conclusões: O TMM é uma estratégia eficaz para melhorar a força muscular, agilidade, equilíbrio dinâmico e sintomas depressivos em homens com DA leve a moderada. Recomenda-se que os pacientes com Alzheimer pratiquem esse tipo de exercício para reduzir as complicações da DA.

Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training on Cardiac Apoptosis Markers in Methamphetamine-Dependent Rats.

Chronic methamphetamine use increases apoptosis, leading to heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Previous studies have shown the importance of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in reducing indices of cardiac tissue apoptosis in different patients, but in the field of sports science, the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis in methamphetamine-dependent rats are still unclear. The present article aimed to investigate the changes in cardiac apoptosis markers in methamphetamine-dependent rats in response to HIIT. Left ventricular tissue was used to evaluate caspase-3, melusin, FAK, and IQGAP1 gene expression. Rats were divided into four groups: sham, methamphetamine (METH), METH-control, and METH-HIIT. METH was injected for 21 days and then the METH-HIIT group performed HIIT for 8 weeks at 5 sessions per week. The METH groups showed increased caspase-3 gene expression and decreased melusin, FAK, and IQGAP1 when compared to the sham group. METH-HIIT showed decreased caspase-3 and increased melusin and FAK gene expression compared with the METH and METH-control groups. The IQGAP1 gene was higher in METH-HIIT when compared with METH, while no difference was observed between METH-HIIT and METH-control. Twenty-one days of METH exposure increased apoptosis markers in rat cardiac tissue; however, HIIT might have a protective effect, as shown by the apoptosis markers.