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.
Moderate exercise improves cognitive function in healthy elderly people: Results of a randomized controlled trial / Carta, M. G.; Cossu, G.; Pintus, E.; Zaccheddu, R.; Callia, O.; Conti, G.; Pintus, M.; Gonzalez, C. I. A.; Massidda, M. V.; Mura, G.; Sardu, C.; Contu, P.; Minerba, L.; Demontis, R.; Pau, M.; Finco, G.; Cocco, E.; Penna, M. P.; Orr, G.; Kalcev, G.; Cabras, F.; Lorrai, S.; Loviselli, A.; Velluzzi, F.; Monticone, M.; Cacace, E.; Musu, M.; Rongioletti, F.; Cauli, A.; Ruggiero, V.; Scano, A.; Crisafulli, A.; Cosentino, S.; Atzori, L.; Massa, E.; Mela, Q.; Fortin, D.; Migliaccio, G.; Machado, S.; Romano, F.; Preti, A.. - In: CLINICAL PRACTICE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY IN MENTAL HEALTH. - ISSN 1745-0179. - 17:1(2021), pp. 75-80. [10.2174/1745017902117010075]
Moderate exercise improves cognitive function in healthy elderly people: Results of a randomized controlled trial
Rongioletti F.;Ruggiero V.;
2021-01-01
Abstract
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.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
