ECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH04
INTRODUCTION: In a physiological view, progressive declines in musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and nervous system function are a picture of human aging. Changes in cognitive, physical function, and morphological parameters may compromise independence and quality of life. Otherwise, regular physical activity is recognized to counteract physical and functional decline, but the evidence on older people long-term engaged in physical exercise is still poorly known. Aim: This study compared cognitive, functional, and morphological parameters across distinct age groups of adults regularly engaged in a physical exercise program. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 473 community-dwelling adults aged 55–84 years. Participants underwent comprehensive cognitive (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Verbal Fluency, Digit Span, Stroop), functional (Senior Fitness Test battery, handgrip strength, 10-m walk test), and morphological (body mass, height, circumferences, skinfolds) assessments. Then, they were stratified into three groups: 55–64 years (middle-aged adults, n=153), 65–74 years (young-old, n=212), and 75–84 years (oldest-old, n=108). Group comparisons were performed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests (p<0.05). The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (protocol number: 5.104.057; CAAE: 49313121.0.0000.5149). RESULTS: Compared to middle-aged group, the oldest-old group demonstrated lower global cognition, reduced verbal fluency, poorer working memory, and slower inhibitory control, whereas young-old adults showed only reduced verbal fluency (all, p< 0.05). Regarding functional parameters, the oldest-old group exhibited lower allometric handgrip strength, reduced sit-to-stand power, fewer arm-curl repetition, and slower agility performance compared with middle-aged adults, whereas young-old adults also showed lower lower-limb strength and power and slower agility (all, p< 0.05). Handgrip strength, gait speed, and aerobic performance did not differ significantly from middle-aged adults (p> 0.05). Progressive reductions in body mass, predicted muscle mass, and calf circumference were observed across age strata, with the lowest values in the oldest-old group (all, p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Progressive changes are observed in cognitive, functional, and anthropometric parameters across groups. Compared with middle-aged adults, the oldest-old group showed the most pronounced changes in all parameters evaluated, while young-old adults showed pronounced declines in functional parameters and smaller reductions in cognitive and anthropometric parameters. In this way, exercise programs should be tailored to the specific characteristics of each age stratum to optimize stimulus and overcome or at least reduce age-related declines over time.
Read CV João Gabriel da Silveira-RodriguesECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH04
INTRODUCTION: Aging is associated with parallel declines in both physical and cognitive functions, which may compromise autonomy and overall quality of life. Dual-task performance, requiring the simultaneous execution of cognitive and motor tasks, is particularly affected. Physical activity has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate these impairments. This study aimed to investigate whether a structured physical training program could improve dual-task performance and related functional and psychological outcomes in sedentary older adults. METHODS: This is a 12-week parallel group randomized-controlled study including sedentary adults aged >60 years. Participants were allocated into an Experimental Group (EG), which performed 3 sessions per week, consisted of 2 aerobic and 1 bodyweight resistance training sessions, or to a Control Group (CG), which received standardized guidelines for active lifestyle according to the World Health Organization. Participants were tested at baseline (BL) and after 12 weeks of protocol (W12). Assessments included dual-task performance by Timed Up and Go test (TUG) single task (ST) and dual task (DT) conditions; cognitive function by Trail-Making A and B (TMT-A/B) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST); muscle strength by right (R) and left (L) handgrip strength (HGS), 30 second arm curl (30sACT), R and L quadriceps maximal isometric strength (QMIS), 30 second chair strand test (30sCST); balance by Y-balance test (YBT), aerobic fitness by 6 minutes walking test (6MWT); and mood state by Profile of Mood State (POMS). Within-group changes were assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test; between-group differences were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test. RESULTS: Thirty-four subjects were screened and enrolled: 17 in EG [11 males, median age: 69 (65-77) years; height: 1.67 (1.62-1.74) m; body mass index (BMI): 22.8 (21.1-25.6) kg/m2] and 17 In CG [11 males; median age: 67 (65-76) years; height: 1.71 (1.62-1.78) m; BMI: 22.3 (21.2-27.7) kg/m2]. EG showed significant improvements from BL in TUG_ST (P=0.001), TUG_DT (P=0.005), TMT-A (P=0.049), 30sACT (0.002), 30sCST (P=0.001), 6MWT (P=0.028), and depression score in POMS (P=0.023). CG exhibited significant declines from BL in TUG_ST (P=0.023) and TUG_DT (P=0.021). Between-group comparisons changes revealed significant differences in TUG_ST (P<0.0001), TUG_DT (P=0.0002), 30sACT (P=0.011), and 30sCST (P=0.028). CONCLUSION: Regular physical activity combining aerobic and resistance training effectively attenuates functional and cognitive decline in sedentary older adults. These results emphasize the importance of incorporating exercise prescriptions into preventive strategies for healthy aging.
Read CV Federica MarmondiECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH04
INTRODUCTION: Global population aging raises the risk of cognitive impairment, with older women particularly affected. Pharmacological treatments for dementia provide limited benefit, prompting renewed interest in exercise-based interventions. Multicomponent training that combines aerobic, resistance, balance, and flexibility exercises can produce synergistic gains in physiological and cognitive function. However, the comparative effects of pairing exergaming with different exercise modalities on specific cognitive domains in older women with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) remain unclear. This study examines how distinct multicomponent exercise protocols, each integrated with exergaming, affect cognitive outcomes in this population. METHODS: Forty-eight older women with MCI (age: 63.9±4.3 years; education: 11.1±2.8 years; BMI: 24.2±3.1 kg/m²; MoCA: 26.3±2.9) were randomized into four groups: Combo Training (CT: aerobic + resistance + exergaming, n=12), Aero-Exe Training (AET: aerobic + exergaming, n=12), Res-Exe Training (RET: resistance + exergaming, n=12), and health education control (HC, n=12). The supervised 8-week intervention used heart rate monitoring (50–80% of maximum heart rate) to control exercise intensity. Behavioral performance (accuracy-ACC, reaction time-RT) and event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded with a 32-channel EEG were assessed before and after the intervention during cognitive tasks (1-back, Stroop, Oddball, Go/No-go). RESULTS: Group comparisons revealed domain-specific improvements. In the 1-back task, CT significantly increased ACC (80.0% to 81.2%, p=0.038, ηp² =0.116) and reduced RT (738.3 ms to 726.7 ms, p=0.027, ηp² =0.125), accompanied by enhanced P300 amplitudes at frontal and parietal sites. For the Stroop task, RET improved ACC (79.2% to 80.8%, p=0.010, ηp² =0.169) and RT (818 ms to 805 ms, p=0.005, ηp² =0.198). During the Oddball task, CT raised ACC for standard stimulus (88.2% to 90.5%, p=0.017, ηp² =0.139), while AET improved processing of deviant stimuli (80.5% to 83.2%, p=0.007, ηp² =0.173). In the Go/No-go task, RET increased inhibitory ACC (75.1% to 77.6%, p=0.017, ηp² =0.158). EEG measures indicated neural efficiency gains in frontal-parietal regions for CT and RET groups. The HC group showed no significant changes in any measure. CONCLUSION: Multicomponent exercise integrated with exergaming yielded domain-specific cognitive improvements in older women with MCI. Multicomponent training enhanced working memory and sustained attention, aerobic-exergaming training improved selective attention, and resistance-exergaming training benefited executive/inhibitory functions. These findings underscore the significance of tailored exercise protocols in addressing specific cognitive deficits. Future studies should examine long-term outcomes and underlying molecular mechanisms, such as BDNF signaling.
Read CV LINXUAN GUOECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH04