Effect of Exercise on Cognitive Performance in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: Review of Intervention Trials and Recommendations for Public Health Practice and Research

Snowden, Mark; Steinman, Lesley; Mochan, Kara N.; Grodstein, Francine; Prohaska, Thomas R.; Thurman, David J.; Brown, David R.; Laditka, James N.; Soares, Jesus; Zweiback, Damita J.; Little, Deborah M.; Anderson, Lynda A.

doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03323.x

Cited by 212 publications

(188 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Additional trials were found from the reference lists of articles and the authors' own literature databases. Previous systematic reviews on this topic and references from the review papers were also examined [1,2,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12,13]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Physical Exercise on Cognitive Performance in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia: A Systematic Review

Öhman

Savikko

Strandberg

et al. 2014

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

239

184

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Numerous studies have shown that physical exercise has positive effects on cognition in healthy adults. Less is known about the effectiveness of exercise interventions in older individuals already suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. The aim of this study was to systematically review the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the effects of physical exercise on cognition in older subjects with MCI or dementia. PubMed, Cochrane and DARE databases were systematically searched for RCTs using terms related to cognition and physical exercise. Altogether, 22 trials were found. The studies on older subjects with MCI reported some positive effects of physical exercise on cognition, mainly on global cognition, executive function, attention and delayed recall. However, most studies performed on older subjects with dementia showed no effect of exercise on cognition. The studies had methodological problems in defining dementia/MCI diagnosis, blinding, inadequate sample sizes and not reporting dropouts, compliance or complications. More studies of good quality on older adults with dementia are needed.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Physical Exercise on Cognitive Performance in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia: A Systematic Review

Öhman

Savikko

Strandberg

et al. 2014

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

239

184

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“…The benefits of regular exercise are widely acknowledged. Older adults can achieve specific benefits as exercise may offset the rapid decline in muscle mass, aerobic capacity (Chrysohoou et al 2014) and cognitive function (Hogan 2005;Snowden et al 2011), as well as enhancing psychological wellbeing and quality of life (McAuley et al 2006;Penedo and Dahn 2005). Despite these benefits, many older adults remain sedentary and few achieve the recommended levels of physical activity needed to accrue these health benefits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of low-volume, high-intensity interval training on maximal aerobic capacity, health-related quality of life and motivation to exercise in ageing men

Knowles

Herbert

Easton

et al. 2015

AGE

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There is a demand for effective training methods that encourage exercise adherence during advancing age, particularly in sedentary populations. This study examined the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise on health-related quality of life (HRQL), aerobic fitness and motivation to exercise in ageing men. Participants consisted of males who were either lifelong sedentary (SED; N=25; age 63±5 years) or lifelong exercisers (LEX; N=19; aged 61±5 years).V O 2max and HRQL were measured at three phases: baseline (Phase A), week seven (Phase B) and week 13 (Phase C). Motivation to exercise was measured at baseline and week 13.VO 2max was significantly higher in LEX (39.2±5.6 ml kg min −1 ) compared to SED (27.2 ±5.2 ml kg min −1 ) and increased in both groups from Phase A to C (SED 4.6±3.2 ml kg min −1 , 95 % CI 3.1 -6.0; LEX 4.9±3.4 ml kg min −1 , 95 % CI 3.1-6.6) Physical functioning (97±4 LEX; 93±7 SED) and general health (70±11 LEX; 78±11 SED) were significantly higher in LEX but increased only in the SED group from Phase A to C (physical functioning 17±18, 95 % CI 9-26, general health 14±14, 95 % CI 8-21). Exercise motives related to social recognition (2.4±1.2 LEX; 1.5 ±1.0 SED), affiliation (2.7±1.0 LEX; 1.6±1.2 SED) and competition (3.3±1.3 LEX; 2.2±1.1) were significantly higher in LEX yet weight management motives were significantly higher in SED (2.9±1.1 LEX; 4.3± 0.5 SED). The study provides preliminary evidence that low-volume HIIT increases perceptions of HRQL, exercise motives and aerobic capacity in older adults, to varying degrees, in both SED and LEX groups.Keywords Ageing men . High-intensity interval training . Health-related quality of life . Motivation . Exercise

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“…However, not all reviews concluded this. One recent review [3] stated that there was still insufficient evidence, as most studies were too small and had insufficient methodological information (intensity, duration) to enable appropriate evaluation. Here we discuss potential confounds or mediators that may explain these discrepancies.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Exercise to Prevent Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s disease: For Whom, When, What, and (most importantly) How Much?

Hogervorst¹,

Clifford²,

Stock³

et al. 2012

J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism

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In several reviews, exercise was reported to be effective in reducing the risk for cognitive decline and dementia [1,2]. However, not all reviews concluded this. One recent review [3] stated that there was still insufficient evidence, as most studies were too small and had insufficient methodological information (intensity, duration) to enable appropriate evaluation. Here we discuss potential confounds or mediators that may explain these discrepancies.We found that most observational studies showed at least some positive associations of exercise, but not always on the same cognitive tests [1]. Variance in studies was induced by inconsistent use of cognitive assessments (e.g. fluid intelligence compound scores vs Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) scores by itself); different assessments of fitness (objective vs. self reported hours of exercise engaged in); and different cut-offs for high/low exercise across studies. These limitations were echoed by others and recent reviews also illuminated potential confounds associated with both exercise and cognitive improvement, such as lifting of depression, as well as social and cognitive stimulation [4], and an increase in self efficacy (Stock, in press), which have usually not been taken along in analyses or adequately controlled for. Observational studies are limited in their ability to establish causality and many people could have stopped exercise because of other confounding morbidity, which may also affect cognitive function (e.g. vascular disease, see below). Randomised controlled trials (RCT) are better at establishing causality, but can also be affected by choice of measurements and population, suffer from baseline differences, regression to the mean and design of the control conditions (e.g. without social or cognitive stimulating aspects), as well as the above mentioned limitations of potential non-assessed confounds or mediators, such as mood.In our earlier review of 26 RCT studies in community dwelling elderly without known dementia or cognitive impairment, which had been carried out up to 2009 [1], only 6 studies showed overall cognitive improvement, 13 some improvement and 7 none at all. The most consistent cognitive tests to be affected by exercise interventions in this group were simple tests, such as those of concentration and those using simple reaction times. Several earlier reviews suggested that more complex cognitive tests were most affected by exercise. However, our review finding was substantiated by those of the Cochrane meta analyses [5], which is a gold standard medical review system. About half of RCT studies we had included in our review [1], which had used a simple test of concentration and working memory (Digit Span) found that it displayed significant positive results of exercise, but the other half of studies using this test (n=5) had not found any improvement. Of the complex information processing tests previously thought to be most sensitive to exercise, 21 tests (including the Stroop 4x, Symbol Digit Modalities test (SDMT) 4x, CRT 3x,...

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Effect of Exercise on Cognitive Performance in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: Review of Intervention Trials and Recommendations for Public Health Practice and Research

Cited by 212 publications

References 45 publications

Effect of Physical Exercise on Cognitive Performance in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia: A Systematic Review

Effect of Physical Exercise on Cognitive Performance in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia: A Systematic Review

Impact of low-volume, high-intensity interval training on maximal aerobic capacity, health-related quality of life and motivation to exercise in ageing men

Exercise to Prevent Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s disease: For Whom, When, What, and (most importantly) How Much?

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