Depression and Exercise in Elderly Men and Women: Findings from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between light and strenuous exercise and depression, as well as gender differences in this relationship, in a representative sample of 860 elderly Swedish suburb-dwelling men and women in age cohorts from 60 to 96 years, drawn from among participants in the Swedish National Aging and Care study. The relationship between depression and self-reported changes in exercise status over time was also examined. Exercise activities were measured with four survey questions, and depression, with the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale. The inactive elderly had higher depression scores than more active individuals, both in terms of light and strenuous exercise. The continuously active group had lower depression scores than both continuously inactive individuals and individuals reporting a shift from activity to inactivity during the preceding year. Light exercise had a somewhat stronger effect on depression for women.

Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Advanced Age: LiLACS NZ

“…An exercise intervention study found that strenuous exercise had a significant effect on reducing depression in Swedish older men but not women (n=860) aged 60-89 but that light activity one had a significant effect on depression for women [48]. Studies analyzing the effects of different domains and activity may also explain this relationship.…”

Envelhecimento activo e estilos de vida saudáveis : a actividade física

“…As respostas ao treino de endurance e força, por indivíduos idosos, mantêm e melhoram os níveis de volume de oxigénio (VO 2 ) máximo, débito cardíaco e diferença arterio--venosa de O2, ajudando a compensar a redução na massa e força muscular tipicamente associada ao processo de envelhecimento. (Oliveira, 2005;WHO, 2006;Edwards & Tsouros, 2006;Bennett et al, 2006;Lindwall et al, 2006;WHO, 2007a;Nelson et al, 2007).…”

Determining the Score for Depression and Its Relationship with the Level of Physical Activity in a Patient at the Family Medicine

“…Growth curve models revealed that all groups exhibited statistically and clinically significant reductions on HAM-D and BDI scores. However, patients which were receiving medication alone exhibited the fastest initial response; among patients receiving combination therapy, those with less severe depressive symptoms initially showed a more rapid response than those with initially more severe depressive symptoms (Lindwall, Rennemark, Halling, Berglund, & Hassmen, 2007).…”