OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos de 12 semanas da prática do método Pilates sobre a percepção da qualidade de vida (QV) de idosas sexagenárias e septuagenárias.MÉTODOS: Estudo quase-experimental, realizado com 73 mulheres praticantes regulares do método Pilates, divididas em grupo: G1 sexagenárias (n=54) e septuagenárias (n=19). O programa de treinamento foi composto por 11 exercícios do método Pilates, praticados durante 12 semanas, com duas seções semanais (60 minutos). Quatro instrumentos foram utilizados: questionário sociodemográfico, Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC), Mini Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM) e o questionário SF-36 (The Medical Outcomes Study 36 – Item Short Form Health Survery – Short Form-36). A homogeneidade dos dados foi estabelecida pelo teste de Shapiro-Wilk. Diferenças significativas entre os momentos teste e pós-teste do SF36 foram obtidas pelo teste de Wilcoxon. Dados categóricos foram processados pelo teste de Chi-Quadrado. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%.RESULTADOS: Verificou-se, em ambos os grupos, aumento dos escores dos oito domínios do SF-36. Diferenças significativas foram verificadas entre sexagenárias nos domínios Capacidade funcional (CF), Aspectos funcionais (AF), Estado geral de saúde (EGS), Vitalidade (V), Aspectos sociais (AS), Aspectos emocionais (AE) e Saúde mental (SM) (p≤0,05), enquanto septuagenárias indicaram significância nas facetas EGS e V (p≤0,05).CONCLUSÕES: 12 semanas de prática do método Pilates mostraram-se eficazes à promoção da percepção da qualidade de vida de mulheres sexagenárias e septuagenárias.

This study aims to examine the effects of 12 weeks of physical-cognitive dual-task training on cognition, depression, sleep quality, and quality of life in older women (n = 44; 66.20 ± 4.05 years). Of these, 22 were randomly allocated to the dual-task training (DT) group, and 22 participated in the activities of the education control group (CG). Assessments were performed at baseline, at the end of 12 weeks of intervention, and after 12 weeks of follow-up using the following instruments: Trail Making Test parts A and B, ΔTMT (B-A), Stroop test parts A, B, C, and ΔStroop (C-B), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), sleep quality (PSQI), quality of life (SF-36). The results showed a positive and significant time-group interaction for two cognitive domains (TMT and Stroop). No time-group interaction effect was indicated for depression and sleep quality perception. There was a positive and significant interaction effect between time and group for three SF-36 subcategories (physical function, physical role, and general health). Our training protocol was not able to improve depressive symptoms and sleep quality. On the other hand, DT training was able to promote the performance of executive functions and the physical and mental component summary of the quality of life with lasting effects of up to 12 weeks after the intervention.

Among the risk factors reported for cognitive decline, the literature highlights changes in body composition. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between obesity/overweight and executive functions in cognitively normal older adult women. This cross-sectional study included 224 individuals (60–80 years), stratified into normal weight (n = 45), overweight (n = 98), and obesity (n = 81). As outcomes, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and Trail Making Test Parts A and B were assessed. We found positive correlations of BMI and WC with completion times of TMT-A and TMT-B, and a negative correlation of BMI and WC with education. ANCOVA showed an association between higher BMI and slower completion time of TMT-A, TMT-B, and ΔTMT (B-A). Impairment of executive functions of cognitively normal older women may be positively associated with obesity and negatively associated with years of education. The findings may contribute to designing strategies that make it possible to prevent cognitive decline in women during aging.

In 2020 and 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus spread rapidly across the world, causing the COVID-19 pandemic with millions of deaths. One of the measures to protect life was confinement, which negatively affected physical and mental health, especially of the older population. The aim of this study is to present and evaluate the methodological procedures of a telehealth and eHealth program “U3A in Motion”, which was composed of videos of physical exercises and activities to promote the mental health and well-being of the older Brazilian population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The procedures included the planning, editing, and dissemination of videos through WhatsApp, and also on the YouTube platform, Instagram, and on a website. A total of 82 videos were created. The action reached 350 older adults from the local community in the northeast of Brazil, as well as being accessed by approximately 3000 other older adults from institutions in the southern region of Brazil. Based on the evaluation of activities through telephone interviews, it was found that older adults participating in the “U3A in Motion” program during confinement were highly motivated to access exercise activities, mainly via mobile phones, and reported a positive effect on physical and mental health.

This study aims to investigate the effects of dual-task physical–cognitive the training on body balance (BB), gait performance (GP), lower limb muscle strength (LEMS), and cognitive performance (CP) in a group of cognitively normal older adult women (n = 44; 66.20 ± 4.05 years). Of these, 22 were randomly allocated to the dual-task training (DT) group, and 22 participated in the control group (CG). Assessments were performed at baseline, after 12 weeks of intervention, and at the end of 12 weeks of follow-up, using the following instruments: Timed Up & Go (TUG), Timed Up & Go manual (TUGm), Timed Up & Go cognitive (TUGc), Balance Test (TEC), sit-to-stand test (STS), and verbal fluency test (VF). After 12 weeks of DT training, participants showed a significant time × group interaction in all motor assessments (BB, GP, LEMS), as well as in three cognitive tests (VF-grouping, VF-exchange, VF-total). No time–group interaction effect was indicated for the VF-category test. At all evaluation times, CG members maintained constant physical and cognitive performance. We conclude that 12 weeks of physical–cognitive DT training was effective in promoting BB, GP, and LEMS, as well as CP in cognitively normal older adult women, with lasting effects up to 12 weeks after the intervention.