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.

OBJETIVOS: Revisar a literatura quanto (I) ao possível efeito protetor do exercício físico sobre a incidência de depressão e (II) à eficácia do exercício físico como intervenção no tratamento da depressão. MÉTODO: Revisão sistemática de artigos em inglês e português nas bases ISI, PubMed, SciELO e LILACS de janeiro de 1993 a maio de 2006, utilizando conjuntamente os termos "depressão", "idosos" e "exercício". Artigos que avaliaram o efeito do exercício em idosos com doenças clínicas ou que utilizaram escalas para depressão somente para um diagnóstico inicial foram excluídos. RESULTADOS: Do total de 155 artigos, 22 atenderam aos critérios de inclusão, e oito foram acrescentados com busca manual. Os artigos de corte transversal (n = 8) utilizaram somente questionários de auto-avaliação para medir os níveis de atividade física. Os artigos longitudinais (n = 22) utilizaram também pedômetro digital, consumo direto de oxigênio e o exercício físico como intervenção metodológica. Os estudos que atenderam ao objetivo I apontaram para uma relação inversamente proporcional entre atividade física e alterações nos níveis de depressão. Os trabalhos que utilizaram o exercício como intervenção terapêutica na depressão encontraram resultados divergentes e apontaram para a interferência de fatores fisiológicos e psicológicos nessa relação. CONCLUSÃO: O papel do exercício e da atividade física no tratamento da depressão direciona-se para duas vertentes: a depressão promove redução da prática de atividades físicas; a atividade física pode ser um coadjuvante na prevenção e no tratamento da depressão no idoso.

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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-Exercise has been widely related to changes in cortical activation and enhanced brain functioning. Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) is frequently used to investigate normal and pathological conditions in the brain cortex. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to observe absolute power alterations in beta and alpha frequency bands after a maximal effort exercise. Ten healthy young volunteers were submitted to an eight-minute resting EEG (eyes closed) followed by a maximal exercise test using a mechanical cycle ergometer. Immediately after the exercise, another identical eight-minute EEG was recorded. Log transformation and paired student's t-test compared the pre and post exercise values (p<0.05). Results indicated a significant absolute power increase in beta after exercise at frontal (Fp1, F3 and F4) and central (C4) areas, which might be related to increased cortical activation. KEY WORDS: EEG, exercise, cortical activationAlterações eletrencefalográficas nas bandas de frequência alfa e beta após exercício de esforço máximo RESUMO -A atividade física vem sendo relacionada com ativação cortical e melhor funcionamento do cére-bro. A eletrencefalografia quantitativa (EEGq) é freqüentemente usada para investigar condições normais e patológicas do córtex cerebral. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi observar alterações na potência absoluta nas bandas de freqüência alfa e beta após um exercício de esforço máximo. Dez voluntá-rios jovens e saudáveis foram submetidos a oito minutos de EEG antes e após um teste de esforço máximo em cicloergômetro. As transformações para o log e o teste t de Student foram utilizados para comparar as respostas eletrencefalográficas entre os momentos pré e pós exercício. Foi observado aumento significativo na potência absoluta de beta após o exercício nos eletrodos frontais (Fp1, F3, F4) e centrais (C4). Este resultado pode estar associado a alterações fisiológicas e ao aumento da ativação cortical.PALAvRAS-ChAvE: EEG, exercício, ativação cortical.

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The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of an intensified training phase followed by a tapering phase on the salivary immunoglobulin A concentration and on the upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms in young male basketball players. The session rating of perceived exertion method was used to quantify the internal training load, and the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21 questionnaire was used to assess URTI symptoms. The Yo-Yo IR1 test and saliva collection were carried out at the beginning of the study (T1), after the intensified phase (T2), and after tapering (T3). A higher internal training load was observed for the intensified phase compared with the tapering phase (t=19.10; p<0.001), and a significant decrease in salivary immunoglobulin A concentration was detected (F=7.48; p=0.004) at T3 compared to T1 (p=0.02) and T2 (p=0.05). However, there was no significant difference between phases for severity of URTI (χ2= 2.83; p=0.242). The Yo-Yo IR1 test performance increased from T2 and T3 compared to T1 (F=58.24; p<0.001). There was no significant effect of aerobic fitness level on salivary immunoglobulin A response (F=1.095; p=0.344). In summary, the present findings suggest that an intensified training load followed by a tapering period negatively affects the mucosal immune function with no significant change in severity of URTI in young basketball players.