Effects of a physical fitness program on memory and blood viscosity in sedentary elderly men

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6-month exercise program on cognitive function and blood viscosity in sedentary elderly men. Forty-six healthy inactive men, aged 60–75 years were randomly distributed into a control group (n=23) and an experimental group (n=23). Participants underwent blood analysis and physical and memory evaluation, before and after the 6-month program of physical exercise. The control group was instructed not to alter its everyday activities; the experimental group took part in the fitness program. The program was conducted using a cycle ergometer, 3 times per week on alternate days, with intensity and volume individualized at ventilatory threshold 1. Sessions were continuous and maximum duration was 60 min each. There was significant improvement in memory (21%; P<0.05), decreased blood viscosity (−19%; P<0.05), and higher aerobic capacity (48%; P<0.05) among participants in the experimental group compared with the control group. These data suggest that taking part in an aerobic physical fitness program at an intensity corresponding to ventilatory threshold-1 may be considered a nonmedication alternative to improve physical and cognitive function.

Aerobic physical activity to improve memory and executive function in sedentary adults without cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…All nine included studies were judged as low risk in the domains of random sequence generation and other sources of bias. A majority of the studies were low risk for selective outcome reporting (8 studies) ( Erickson et al, 2011 , Albinet et al, 2010 , Ruscheweyh et al, 2011 , Voss et al, 2013 , Chapman et al, 2013 , Antunes et al, 2015 , Antunes et al, 2015 , Albinet et al, 2016 ) and incomplete outcome data (6 studies) ( Erickson et al, 2011 , Albinet et al, 2010 , Ruscheweyh et al, 2011 , Chapman et al, 2013 , Antunes et al, 2015 , Antunes et al, 2015 , Vidoni et al, 2015 ). A majority of the studies were judged to have unclear risk of allocation concealment (7 studies) ( Erickson et al, 2011 , Albinet et al, 2010 , Ruscheweyh et al, 2011 , Voss et al, 2013 , Chapman et al, 2013 , Antunes et al, 2015 , Albinet et al, 2016 ) and blinding of outcome assessors (6 studies) ( Erickson et al, 2011 , Albinet et al, 2010 , Voss et al, 2013 , Chapman et al, 2013 , Antunes et al, 2015 , Albinet et al, 2016 ).…”

Berberine Ameliorates Spatial Learning Memory Impairment and Modulates Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway in Diabetic Rats

“…Hence, these may impair saturation transport mechanism of glucose and insulin, and reduce cerebral blood flow. However, long-term effects will inevitably affect the glucose metabolism of neuron (Marioni et al, 2010; Noh et al, 2014; Antunes et al, 2015). Neurons are highly dependent on glucose energy supply.…”

Moderate-intensity exercise training improves long-term memory in fructose-fed rats

“…The increase in processed food intake, which has high fructose content, has been linked to a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity 1,2 . Excessive fructose consumption induces oxidative stress, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and impaired appetite hormone signaling 3 , features that could be associated with changes in cognitive function, which comprises the phases of the information process, perception, learning, memory, attention, surveillance, reasoning and problem solving, psychomotor functioning, reaction time, movement time and performance speed [4][5][6] .…”