A decrease in brain volume (i.e., brain atrophy) is a marker of cognitive health in older adults. Insufficient weekly accumulation of moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has been associated with lower brain volume. As this association has been established for a small number of brain areas and structures and atrophy rates seem to be nonuniform between them, more comprehensive analyses are warranted. We compared the volume of 71 brain areas and structures in 45 older adults who met and did not meet objectively measured MVPA recommendations. In addition, we used multiple regression models to determine whether cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2PEAK), MVPA and health-related risk factors could affect the atrophy of brain areas and structures. An accelerometer (GT9-X ActiGraph®) was worn for 7 days. Participants were then classified into two groups: <150 minutes MVPA (< 150'MVPA) (n=20) and ≥150 minutes MVPA (≥ 150'MVPA) (n=25) per week. Older adults who accumulated ≥ 150'MVPA per week had significantly higher absolute and relative (% of intracranial volume) volumes of 39 and 9 brain areas and structures, respectively, than those who accumulated < 150'MVPA per week. Higher VO2PEAK seems to be a key predictor of the atrophy of brain areas and structures. In conclusion, meeting weekly physical activity recommendations seems to have a widespread effect on preserving the volume of more than 30 brain areas and structures in older adults. VO2PEAK seems to be the most frequent and important predictor of brain volume preservation.

BackgroundPatients with major depression disorder presents increased rates of cognitive decline, reduced hippocampal volume, poor sleep quality, hypertension, obesity, suicidal ideation and behavior, and decreased functionality. Although continuous aerobic exercise (CAE) improves some of the aforementioned symptoms, comorbidities, and conditions, recent studies have suggested that performing aerobic exercise with motor complexity (AEMC) may be more beneficial for cognitive decline, hippocampal volume, and functionality. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial will compare the effects of CAE and AEMC on depression score, cognitive function, hippocampal volume, brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression, sleep parameters, cardiovascular risk parameters, suicidal behavior, functionality, and treatment costs in patients with depression.Methods/designSeventy-five medicated patients with depression will be recruited from a Basic Healthcare Unit to participate in this prospective, parallel group, single blinded, superiority, randomized controlled trial. Patients with depression according to DSM-V criteria will be balanced and randomly assigned (based on depression scores and number of depressive episodes) to a non-exercising control (C), CAE, and AEMC groups. The CAE and AEMC groups will exercise for 60 min, twice a week for 24 weeks (on non-consecutive days). Exercise intensity will be maintained between 12 and 14 points of the rating of perceived exertion scale (~ 70–80% of the maximum heart rate). The CAE group will perform a continuous aerobic exercise while the AEMC group will perform exercises with progressively increased motor complexity. Blinded raters will assess patients before and after the intervention period. The primary outcome measure will be the change in depression score measured by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes will include measures of cognitive function, hippocampal volume, brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression, sleep parameters, cardiovascular risk parameters, suicidal behavior, functionality, and treatment costs.DiscussionThis study was selected in the call of public policy programs for the Brazilian Unified National Health System – “PPSUS 2015”. To our knowledge, this is the first pragmatic trial to test the effect of adding AEMC to the pharmacological treatment of patients with depression and to evaluate the possible reductions in depression symptoms and healthcare costs.Trial registrationBrazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBec) - RBR-9zgxzd - Registered on 4 Jan. 2017.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-2906-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Pouco se sabe sobre o possível impacto da implementação de programas de exercício físico regular sobre adiposidade corporal e gastos com saúde de pacientes atendidos em Unidades Básicas de Saúde, sendo assim, o objetivo do estudo foi implementar e verificar o efeito de um programa de exercício físico com duração de 12 meses, sobre a obesidade e gastos públicos em saúde desses pacientes. Amostra composta por 25 adultos, com idade ≥50 anos, hipertensos e insuficientemente ativos. Anteriormente ao início do treinamento, aos seis meses e ao final foi realizada avaliação da composição corporal, pressão arterial e análise dos gastos em saúde. O treinamento era realizado três vezes na semana com duração de 60 minutos. Para o fator intervenção houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos somente para a variável circunferência de cintura (p=0,019). Para os valores de gordura corporal, o grupo intervenção apresentou reduções ao longo do seguimento, as quais foram significativas quando comparadas ao grupo controle. Os gastos com consultas reduziram ao longo do tempo em ambos os grupos (p=0,026). O programa de exercícios físicos foi capaz de proporcionar benefícios ao percentual de gordura corporal dos pacientes, porém gastos com saúde não foram afetados