Physical activity and cognitive function in individuals over 60 years of age: a systematic review

Carvalho, Ashley; Rea, Irene Maeve; Parimon, Tanyalak; Cusack, Barry J.

doi:10.2147/cia.s55520

Cited by 130 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…The increasing body of research suggests that muscles have a plasticity which adapt depending on whether we engage in exercise or remain sedentary, and which also depends on our nutritional status and, is influenced by health issues such as chronic inflammatory disease. In studies with high quality measures of physical activity, there is clear and growing support to show that engagement in physical exercise has protective effects not only for our muscles but also for our cognitive function and there may be a doserelated effect (Carvalho et al 2014).…”

Section: Exercise Frailty and Epigenetic Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Living long and ageing well: is epigenomics the missing link between nature and nurture?

2015

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Human longevity is a complex trait and increasingly we understand that both genes and lifestyle interact in the longevity phenotype. Non-genetic factors, including diet, physical activity, health habits, and psychosocial factors contribute approximately 50% of the variability in human lifespan with another 25% explained by genetic differences. Family clusters of nonagenarian and centenarian siblings, who show both exceptional age-span and health-span, are likely to have inherited facilitatory gene groups, but also have nine decades of life experiences and behaviours which have interacted with their genetic profiles. Identification of their shared genes is just one small step in the link from genes to their physical and psychological profiles. Behavioural genomics is beginning to demonstrate links to biological mechanisms through regulation of gene expression, which directs the proteome and influences the personal phenotype. Epigenetics has been considered the missing link between nature and nurture. Although there is much that remains to be discovered, this article will discuss some of genetic and environmental factors which appear important in good quality longevity and link known epigenetic mechanisms to themes identified by nonagenarians themselves related to their longevity. Here we suggest that exceptional 90-year old siblings have adopted a range of behaviours and life-styles which have contributed to their ageing-well-phenotype and which link with important public health messages.

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Section: Exercise Frailty and Epigenetic Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Living long and ageing well: is epigenomics the missing link between nature and nurture?

2015

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“…Physical inactivity is estimated to contribute the highest population-attributable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is associated with 20% of AD cases in the UK, USA and Europe [8]. There is also evidence of mild, short-term positive effect of PA on brain health [9, 10]. However, the effectiveness of physical activity interventions for the primary prevention of dementia and delay in the onset of cognitive decline is unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Activity in Community Dwelling Older People: A Systematic Review of Reviews of Interventions and Context

Olanrewaju¹,

Kelly²,

Cowan³

et al. 2016

PLoS ONE

181

136

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BackgroundThe promotion and maintenance of higher physical activity (PA) levels in the older population is an imperative for cognitive and healthy ageing but it is unclear what approaches are best suited to achieve this for the increasing number of older people living in the community. Effective policies should be informed by robust, multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional evidence, which not only seeks what works, but in ‘what context? In addition to evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of PA for maintaining cognitive health, social contexts such as ‘how do we actually get older people to partake in PA?’ and ‘how do we sustain that activity long-term?’ also need highlighting. This review is part of a comprehensive evidence synthesis of preventive interventions in older age, with a focus on healthy behaviours to identify evidence gaps and inform policy relating to ageing well and cognitive health. An overview of systematic reviews of PA was conducted to explore three topics: (1) PA efficacy or effectiveness for primary prevention of cognitive decline in 55+; (2) Interventions efficacious or effective for increasing PA uptake and maintenance in 55+; (3) barriers and facilitators to PA in 55+.MethodsMultiple databases were searched for studies in English from OECD countries between 2000 and 2016. Quality of included reviews in questions (1) and (2) were assessed using AMSTAR. Review protocols were registered on PROSPERO (CRD42014015554, 42014015584, CRD42014015557) and reviews follow PRISMA guideline.FindingsOverall, 40 systematic reviews were included. Question 1 (n = 14). 8,360 participants. Evidence suggests that PA confer mild positive effects on cognition in older adults with and without previous cognitive impairment. However, there is insufficient evidence of a dose-response relationship. Evidence on the effects of PA on delay of dementia onset is inconclusive. Question 2 (n = 17). 79,650 participants. Evidence supports the effectiveness of a variety of interventions, including group delivered, centre-based and cognitive approaches on short-term uptake of PA behaviour. Question 3 (n = 9). 22,413 participants. Barriers include health status, previous PA habits and experiences, and cultural sensitivity, while facilitators include enjoyable activities and convenient scheduling.ConclusionPA can offer small benefits to brain health, but evidence on how much activity is required to produce this effect is lacking. Evidence on the effectiveness of PA for preventing dementia and cognitive decline is lacking. Behavioural (walking, exercise) and cognitive (counselling and motivational interviews) interventions are effective for short-term uptake of physical activity in older people. In order to maintain long-term participation in PA, individualised interventions modelled using behavioural theories may be required. Public health messages should be aimed at promoting acceptable levels of PA above normal daily activities in older people. Policy and strategies aimed at increasing PA in older people should be encourag...

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“…The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends engaging in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), which has been positively associated with numerous health outcomes in older adults including lower rates of all-cause mortality, type 2 diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and some cancers [2, 3]. It may also improve cognitive function and delay the onset of cognitive disease [4]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring moderate-intensity walking in older adults using the ActiGraph accelerometer

et al. 2016

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BackgroundAccelerometry is the method of choice for objectively assessing physical activity in older adults. Many studies have used an accelerometer count cut point corresponding to 3 metabolic equivalents (METs) derived in young adults during treadmill walking and running with a resting metabolic rate (RMR) assumed at 3.5 mL · kg−1 · min−1 (corresponding to 1 MET). RMR is lower in older adults; therefore, their 3 MET level occurs at a lower absolute energy expenditure making the cut point derived from young adults inappropriate for this population. The few studies determining older adult specific moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) cut points had methodological limitations, such as not measuring RMR and using treadmill walking.MethodsThis study determined a MVPA hip-worn accelerometer cut point for older adults using measured RMR and overground walking. Following determination of RMR, 45 older adults (mean age 70.2 ± 7 years, range 60–87.6 years) undertook an outdoor, overground walking protocol with accelerometer count and energy expenditure determined at five walking speeds.ResultsMean RMR was 2.8 ± 0.6 mL · kg−1 · min−1. The MVPA cut points (95% CI) determined using linear mixed models were: vertical axis 1013 (734, 1292) counts · min−1; vector magnitude 1924 (1657, 2192) counts · min−1; and walking speed 2.5 (2.2, 2.8) km · hr−1. High levels of inter-individual variability in cut points were found.ConclusionsThese MVPA accelerometer and speed cut points for walking, the most popular physical activity in older adults, were lower than those for younger adults. Using cut points determined in younger adults for older adult population studies is likely to underestimate time spent engaged in MVPA. In addition, prescription of walking speed based on the adult cut point is likely to result in older adults working at a higher intensity than intended.

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Physical activity and cognitive function in individuals over 60 years of age: a systematic review

Cited by 130 publications

References 88 publications

Living long and ageing well: is epigenomics the missing link between nature and nurture?

Living long and ageing well: is epigenomics the missing link between nature and nurture?

Physical Activity in Community Dwelling Older People: A Systematic Review of Reviews of Interventions and Context

Measuring moderate-intensity walking in older adults using the ActiGraph accelerometer

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