Effects of Endurance-Focused Physical Activity Interventions on Brain Health

Abstract

Physical activity intervention studies that focus on improving cognitive function in older adults have increasingly used magnetic imaging resonance (MRI) measures in addition to neurocognitive measures to assess effects on the brain. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the effects of endurance-focused physical activity randomized clinical trial (RCT) interventions on the brain as measured by MRI in community-dwelling middle-aged or older adults without cognitive impairment. Five electronic databases were searched. The final sample included six studies. None of the studies reported racial or ethnic characteristics of the participants. All studies included neurocognitive measures in addition to MRI. Five of the six interventions included laboratory-based treadmill or bike supervised exercise sessions, while one included community-based physical activity. Physical activity measures were limited to assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness, and pedometer in one study. Due to the lack of adequate data reported, effect sizes were calculated for only one study for MRI measures and two studies for neurocognitive measures. Effect sizes ranged from d = .2-.3 for MRI measures and .2–32 for neurocognitive measures. Findings of the individual studies suggest that MRI measures may be more sensitive to the effects of physical activity than neurocognitive measures. Future studies are needed that include diverse, community-based participants, direct measures of physical activity, and complete reporting of MRI and neurocognitive findings.

Effects of an exercise model based on functional circuits in an older population with different levels of social participation

“…Another important finding is that the functional exercise circuit induced improvements in both groups for gait speed and dynamic balance evaluated by the TUG, and decreased the disability evaluated by MHAQ. This is consistent with previous studies on the positive effects of exercise on older adults, such as improvement in force, gait speed, dynamic balance and prevention of disabilities and comorbidities . However, it is worth pointing out that exercise generated greater benefits in SNA participants than in the SA participants, and that handgrip force post‐training only improved in SNA participants.…”

“…The participation in physical activity programs is translated into health benefits by increasing aerobic capacity, strength, balance and preventing the risk of falls . Benefits are also observed in reducing comorbidities, promoting bone mineralization, improving memory and learning . A bottleneck is the rarely offered individualized exercise prescription in community exercise programs.…”

Quality of life and physical activity in an older working-age population

“…Undertaking properly dosed physical activity allows older working-age people to maintain their physical and mental fitness at an appropriate level and enable effective performance of their professional duties. 26 , 27 Halloway et al 28 and Kirk-Sanchez and McGough 29 observed positive effects of exercise on brain health and cognitive performance in adult populations. Physical activity may therefore fulfill both preventive and rehabilitative functions in this particular age group.…”

Physical activity and long-term survival in older men and women: A 21 year longitudinal study

“…Previous research has also found that improved physically activity among older women will lead to an improved cognitive function (Weuve, Kang, Manson, Breteler, Ware, Grodstein, 2004;Yaffe, Barnes, Nevitt, Lui, Covinsky, 2001). More generally, previous research has found that physical activity is likely to lead to positive health outcomes in older adults (Sparling, Howard, Dunstan, and Owe, 2015;Gebel et al, 2015;Olanrewaju et al, 2016;Halloway et al, 2017). Furthermore, Hupin et al (2015) in a systematic and meta review noted that moderate to intense physical activity is likely to reduce all-cause mortality by 22% in adults who are aged 60 or older.…”

“…Previous research has found that a high level of recreational physical activity can reduce the likelihood of mortality over both 3 and 6 years for older adults, and that physical activity offers benefits to physically capable older adults, primarily in reducing the risk of functional decline and mortality (Simonsick, Lafferty, Phillips et al 1993). Systematic reviews conducted by Olanrewaju et al (2016) and Halloway et al (2017) have found that promoting physical activity among older adults can also lead to positive effects related to cognition. Moreover, Sparling, Howard, Dunstan, and Owe (2015) in a study published in the British Medical Journal noted that even modest increases in physical activity for older adults would lead to health benefits.…”