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Moderate Exercise Improves Cognitive Function in Healthy Elderly People: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
- Source :
- Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health : CP & EMH
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Bentham Science Publishers, 2021.
-
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
- Subjects :
- Quality of life
medicine.medical_specialty
Aging
Epidemiology
Cognition
Dementia
Physical activity
RCT
RCT [Invecchiamento
Article
law.invention
Demenza
Randomized controlled trial
law
Intervention (counseling)
Medicine
Effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance
Cognitive decline
Cognizione
Attività fisica
Qualità della vita
RCT]
business.industry
Psychiatry and Mental health
Physical therapy
Medical certificate
business
Anaerobic exercise
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17450179
- Volume :
- 17
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health : CP & EMH
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....e5ffc50c6f4484d5c25b8caad3553959