The relationship between physical activity and mental health has been widely investigated, and several hypotheses have been formulated about it. Specifically, during the aging process, physical exercise might represent a potential adjunctive treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive impairment, helping delay the onset of neurodegenerative processes. Even though exercise itself might act as a stressor, it has been demonstrated that it reduces the harmful effects of other stressors when performed at moderate intensities. Neurotransmitter release, neurotrophic factor and neurogenesis, and cerebral blood flow alteration are some of the concepts involved. In this review, the potential effects of exercise on the aging process and on mental health are discussed, concerning some of the recent findings on animal and human research. The overwhelming evidence present in the literature today suggests that exercise ensures successful brain functioning.

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effect of aerobic training and strength training as a treatment for depression in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Methods: PubMed (Medline), ISI knowledge (Institute for Scientific Information), SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library) and Scopus databases were consulted from January 1970 to September 2011. Data were collected on variables as follows: total number of patients (pre- and postintervention), age, randomized (yes or no), diagnostic criteria, assessment instruments, and the percentage of remission and treatment response. Subsequently, we collected information on time intervention, intensity, duration, frequency, method of training (aerobic training and strength training) and type of supervision. Standardized mean differences were used for pooling continuous variables as endpoint scores. Binary outcomes, such as proportion of remission (no symptoms) and at least 50% reduction of initial scores (response), were pooled using relative risks. Random effects models were used that take into account the variance within and between studies. Results: Ten articles were selected and subdivided by their interventions, controlled training modality and levels of intensity. As there was no statistically significant difference between the two types of intervention (strength or aerobic training), we combined data which finally showed a 0.61 (95% CI: –0.88 to –0.33) standard deviation reduction in the intervention group compared to the control group. When the analysis was restricted only to those studies that used the Hamilton scale (n = 15), we observed a reduction of 3.49 points compared with the control group. Conclusion: Despite the heterogeneity of the studies, the present meta-analysis concluded that physical exercise improves the response to treatment, especially aerobic training. However, the efficacy of exercise in the treatment of depression was influenced by age and severity of symptoms.

Objective: To assess the effect of aerobic exercise on the cognition and functional capacity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Method: Elderly (n=20) with mild dementia (NINCDS-ADRDA/CDR1) were randomly assigned to an exercise group (EG) on a treadmill (30 minutes, twice a week and moderate intensity of 60% VO 2max ) and control group (GC) 10 patients. The primary outcome measure was the cognitive function using Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG). Specifics instruments were also applied to evaluate executive function, memory, attention and concentration, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control and functional capacity. Results: After 16 weeks, the EG showed improvement in cognition CAMCOG whereas the CG declined. Compared to the CG, the EG presented significant improvement on the functional capacity. The analysis of the effect size has shown a favorable response to the physical exercise in all dependent variables. Conclusion: Walking on treadmill may be recommended as an augmentation treatment for patients with AD.Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, aerobic exercise, physical training, cognitive function, functional capacity. RESUMOObjetivo: Avaliar o efeito do exercício aeróbio na cognição e na capacidade funcional em pacientes com Doença de Alzheimer (DA). Método: Idosos (n=20) com demência leve ((NINCDS-ADRDA/CDR1) foram randomizados em grupo exercício (GE) na esteira (30 minutos, 2 vezes por semana e intensidade moderada de 60% VO 2max )e grupo controle (GC) 10 pacientes. A medida principal foi a função cognitiva através do Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG). Instrumentos específicos também foram aplicados para avaliar a função executiva, atenção e concentração, flexibilidade cognitiva, controle inibitório e capacidade funcional. Resultados: Após 16 semanas, o GE mostrou melhora na cognição CAMCOG enquanto o CG declinou. Comparado ao GC, o GE apresentou melhora significativa na capacidade funcional. A análise do tamanho de efeito mostrou resposta favorável do exercício físico em todas as variáveis dependentes. Conclusão: Caminhar na esteira pode ser recomendado como um tratamento adicional para pacientes com doença de Alzheimer.Palavras-chave: doença de Alzheimer, exercício aeróbio, treinamento físico, função cognitiva, capacidade funcional.

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Our findings indicate that time domain measures are more consistent than frequency domain to describe the chronic cardiovascular autonomic adaptations in athletes.

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OBJECTIVE:The goal of this study was to assess the acute effect of physical exercise on the cognitive function of depressed elderly patients in a dual-task experiment.INTRODUCTION:Physical exercise has a positive effect on the brain and may even act as a treatment for major depressive disorder. However, the effects of acute cardiovascular exercise on cognitive function during and after one session of aerobic training in elderly depressive patients are not known.METHODS:Ten elderly subjects diagnosed with major depressive disorder performed neuropsychological tests during and after a moderate physical exercise session (65-75%HRmax). A Digit Span Test (Forward and Backward) and a Stroop Color-Word Test were used to assess cognitive function. The elderly participants walked on an electric treadmill for 30 minutes and underwent the same cognitive testing before, during, immediately after, and 15 minutes after the exercise session. In the control session, the same cognitive testing was conducted, but without exercise training.RESULTS:The results of the Digit Span Test did not change between the control and the exercise sessions. The results of the Stroop Color-Word Test improved after physical exercise, indicating a positive effect of exercise on cognition.CONCLUSIONS:These data suggest that the cognitive functions of depressed elderly persons, especially attention and inhibitory control, are not impaired during and after an acute session of physical exercise. In contrast, the effect of dual-tasks showed beneficial results for these subjects, mainly after exercise. The dual-task may be a safe and useful tool for assessing cognitive function.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> This study aimed to compare the effects of aerobic training (AT), strength training (ST) and low-intensity exercise in a control group (CG) as adjunct treatments to pharmacotherapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) in older persons. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Older persons clinically diagnosed with MDD (<i>n</i> = 27) and treated with antidepressants were blindly randomized into three groups: AT, ST and a CG. All patients were evaluated prior to and 12 weeks after the intervention. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Compared with the CG, the AT and ST groups showed significant reductions in depressive symptoms (treatment ­response = 50% decrease in the pre- to postintervention assessment) through the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (AT group: χ², <i>p</i> = 0.044) and Beck Depression Inventory (ST group: χ², <i>p</i> = 0.044). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Adding AT or ST with moderate intensity to the usual treatment promoted a greater reduction of MDD symptoms.