Moderate Exercise Improves Cognitive Function in Healthy Elderly People: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health
; 17: 75-80, 2021.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34733346
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Physical activity in the elderly is recommended by international guidelines to protect against cognitive decline and functional impairment.OBJECTIVE:
This Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) was set up to verify whether medium-intensity physical activity in elderly people living in the community is effective in improving cognitive performance.DESIGN:
RCT with parallel and balanced large groups.SETTING:
Academic university hospital and Olympic gyms.SUBJECTS:
People aged 65 years old and older of both genders living at home holding a medical certificate for suitability in non-competitive physical activity.METHODS:
Participants were randomized to a 12-week, 3 sessions per week moderate physical activity program or to a control condition focused on cultural and recreational activities in groups of the same size and timing as the active intervention group. The active phase integrated a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic exercises, including drills of "life movements", strength and balance. The primary outcome was any change in Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R) and its subscales.RESULTS:
At the end of the trial, 52 people completed the active intervention, and 53 people completed the control condition. People in the active intervention improved on the ACE-R (ANOVA F(1;102)=4.32, p=0.040), and also showed better performances on the memory (F(1;102)=5.40 p=0.022) and visual-space skills subscales of the ACE-R (F(1;102)=4.09 p=0.046).CONCLUSION:
A moderate-intensity exercise administered for a relatively short period of 12 weeks is capable of improving cognitive performance in a sample of elderly people who live independently in their homes.Clinical Trials Registration No NCT03858114.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Guideline
Aspects:
Patient_preference
Language:
En
Journal:
Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italia