Multicomponent Exercise Improves Physical Functioning but Not Cognition and Hemodynamic Parameters in Elderly Osteoarthritis Patients Regardless of Hypertension

Effect of agility ladder training with a cognitive task (dual task) on physical and cognitive functions: a randomized study

Introduction

Agility training (AT) is used to improve neuromuscular performance and dynamic balance, which are crucial for the physical function of older adults. Activities of daily living, which decrease with age, involve tasks that simultaneously require motor, and cognitive abilities and can be considered dual tasks.

Methods

This study investigates a training program's physical and cognitive effects using an agility ladder on healthy older adults. This program consisted of 30-min sessions twice per week and lasted for 14 weeks. The physical training included four different sequences with progressive difficulty levels, while the cognitive training (CT) included different verbal fluency (VF) tasks for each physical task. Sixteen participants (mean age of 66.9 ± 5.0 years) were allocated to two groups: AT alone (AT) and dual-task training (AT combined with CT [AT + CT]). Assessments were performed before and after 14 weeks of interventions using physical functional tests (e.g., Illinois agility test, five times sit-to-stand test, timed up and go [TUG], and one-leg stand) and cognitive tests (cognitive TUG, verbal fluency, attention, and scenery picture memory test).

Results

After this period, both groups had significant differences in physical performance, muscle power, agility, static and dynamic balance, and short-term memory, whereas only the AT + CT group improved phonological verbal fluency, executive function (TUG combined with a cognitive task), attention (trail-making test-B), and short-term memory (scenery picture memory test).

Conclusion

Indicating that only the group that received direct cognitive training had better enhanced cognitive function.

Clinical trial registration

www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: RBR-7t7gnjk.

Resistance Training Combined With Cognitive Training Increases Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Improves Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults

Background

The present study compared the effects of a traditional resistance training (TRT) and resistance training combined with cognitive task (RT + CT) on body composition, physical performance, cognitive function, and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) levels in older adults.

Methods

Thirty community-dwelling older adults were randomized into TRT (70.0 ± 8.1; 25% men) and RT + CT (66.3 ± 4.6; 31% men). Exercise groups performed a similar resistance training (RT) program, twice a week over 16 weeks. Cognitive Training involved performing verbal fluency simultaneously with RT. Exercise sessions (eight resistance exercises) were performed 2–3 sets, 8–15 repetitions at 60%–70% of 1-repetition maximum (1RM). Body composition, physical function, cognitive performance, and BDNF levels were assessed before and after intervention period.

Results

The physical performance was similarly improved in response to both TRT and RT + CT (p = 0.001). However, exclusive improvements on cognitive function (p < 0.001) and BDNF levels (p = 0.001) were observed only after RT + CT.

Conclusion

The RT program associated with a cognitive task, improved physical and cognitive performance in healthy older adults.

[Where and how is multicomponent exercise being applied, and in which elderly people, in order to obtain health benefits? A systematic review]

The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise the characteristics of older adults (OA) and to give an account of how and when multicomponent exercise (MCE) has been used to improve physical and psychological health, as well as their cognitive function. This systematic review was conducted on 21 articles published in PsycINFO, Medline, and Web of Science databases from 2009 to 2019, using the procedures set out in the PRISMA statement. The total sample consisted of 3,768 older adults with a mean age of 74.2. More than three-quarters (76%) of the articles studied older adults that lived in the community. evidenced Frailty was observed in the subjects in 23.8% of the articles. In 76% of the studies, a health professional was responsible for the program. Just under half (48%) of the studies were carried out in places equipped for exercise. The most frequent parameters used were two weekly 45 to 60-minute-long sessions for six months. The most frequent variables for physical health, psychological health, and cognitive function were muscle strength, social function, and memory, respectively. To assess physical health, psychological health, and cognitive function, the most frequent tools used were the timed up and go test (TUG), the geriatric depression scale (GDS), and the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), respectively. It was concluded that there is an age and health profile of OA who participate in MCE. The parameters and times most frequently used in MCE, along with the most frequently used parameters and times were recorded. In addition, the variables of interest, and the tools used to evaluate the effects of MCE on physical and psychological health and cognitive functions, were identified.

Multicomponent Exercise on Physical Function, Cognition and Hemodynamic Parameters of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Quasi-Experimental Study

This paper reports on a quasi-experimental study that aimed to identify changes in muscle function (i.e., mobility, maximal walking speed, lower limb muscle strength, balance, and transfer capacity), cognition (i.e., executive function) and hemodynamic parameters of community-dwelling Brazilian older adults during a six-month multicomponent exercise program (MCEP). A total of 436 community-dwelling older adults performed functional, cognitive and hemodynamic assessments before and after a six-month MCEP. The program of exercise was performed twice a week over 26 weeks at moderate intensity. Results indicate that balance, mobility (i.e., usual and maximal walking speeds) and transfer capacity (p < 0.05) were significantly improved after the MCEP. Moreover, all hemodynamic parameters (i.e., systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures), except for heart rate (p > 0.05), were significantly reduced after the intervention. The current findings indicate that a six-month MCEP may provide physical and hemodynamic benefits in community-dwelling older adults. Nevertheless, our findings need to be confirmed in larger samples and better designed studies.