Exercise Modality Is Differentially Associated with Neurocognition in Older Adults

Abstract

This study explored the effects of exercise modality and type of fitness index on cognitive function in the older adults as assessed via behavioral and neuroelectrical approaches. Sixty older adults were assigned to an aerobic exercise, a coordination exercise, or a control group based on their previous exercise experience. The participants completed congruent and incongruent trials of a modified Stroop Test, during which, event-related potentials were recorded. The participants also completed multiple physical tests that assessed health- and skill-related fitness. Our findings suggest that, in general, both aerobic and coordination exercise, as well as higher scores on health- and skill-related fitness indices, are positively associated with better performance of various cognitive functions in the elderly population. The mechanisms underlying these relationships may be differentially related to specific neuroelectrical processes involved in neurocognitive control.

A systematic review of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness on P3b

“…Across studies, evidence supported a relationship of physical activity on P3b from early to late adulthood, with increased physical activity related with larger P3b amplitude (Chang, Chu, et al, ; Chang, Huang, et al, ; Dai et al, ; Fong et al, ; Hillman et al, , ; Polich & Lardon, ; Tsai & Wang, ; Wang & Tsai, ; see example in Figure b), shorter P3b latency (Chang, Huang, et al, ; Fong et al, ; Hillman et al, , ; Kamijo & Takeda, ), or greater neural efficiency as reflected by a larger capacity for upregulating P3b amplitude when task demand increased (Gajewski & Falkenstein, ; Kamijo & Takeda, ). These associations may be moderated by age—as topographic shifts in the expression of P3b on the scalp differ with age (McDowell et al, ) as well as for open‐skill compared to closed‐skill activities, which were associated with larger increases in P3b amplitude (Chang, Chu, et al, ; Tsai & Wang, ; Tsai, Wang, et al, ) and more localized scalp distribution of P3b amplitude (Huang, Lin, Hung, Chang, & Hung, ). Although null associations of physical activity with P3b were found in three studies, these findings may be related to methodological decisions such as unspecified windows for measuring P3b (Hawkes et al, ) or tasks designed to elicit different subcomponents of P3 complex (Getzmann et al, ) or to only assess simple RT (Berchicci et al, ).…”

“…The findings in 16 of the 19 (84.2%) reviewed studies showed associations of physical activity with the P3b‐ERP during performance on cognitive control and attention tasks (Chang, Chu, et al, ; Chang, Huang, Chen, & Hung, ; Dai, Chang, Huang, & Hung, ; Fong, Chi, Li, & Chang, ; Gajewski & Falkenstein, ; Hatta et al, ; Hillman, Kramer, Belopolsky, & Smith, ; Huang, Lin, Hung, Chang, & Hung, ; Kamijo & Takeda, , ; Tsai & Wang, ; Tsai, Wang, et al, ; Wang & Tsai, ), despite no effects in behavioral outcomes in three of the 19 (15.8%) studies (Hillman, Belopolsky, Snook, Kramer, & McAuley, ; McDowell, Kerick, Santa Maria, & Hatfield, ; Polich & Lardon, ). Two studies (10.5%) found improved task performance for active compared to inactive older adults, while no differences in P3b were observed between groups (Getzmann, Falkenstein, & Gajewski, ; Hawkes, Manselle, & Woollacott, ).…”

“…According to the present review, 56 (78.9%) of 71 reviewed studies (excluding Higuchi, Liu, Yuasa, Maeda, & Motohashi, , on muscular fitness) showed associations of physical activity or cardiorespiratory fitness with P3b amplitude. Chronic physical activity engagement and superior cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with increased P3b amplitude (Chang, Chu, et al, ; Chang, Huang, et al, ; Dai et al, ; Fong et al, ; Hawkes et al, ; Hillman et al, , , ; Hillman, Buck, et al, ; Kamijo & Masaki, ; Luque‐Casado et al, ; Polich & Lardon, ; Pontifex et al, , ; Tsai, Chen, et al, ; Tsai & Wang, ; Tsai, Pan, et al, ; Wang & Tsai, ) or enhanced efficiency in the modulation of P3b amplitude in response to the upregulation of cognitive demands (Gajewski & Falkenstein, ; Kamijo & Takeda, ; Moore et al, ; Wu & Hillman, ) throughout the lifespan. Specifically, physical activity‐related topographic shifts in P3b amplitude were found, suggesting compensatory brain activation in aging adults to support cognitive control and attention processes (Hillman et al, , ; Huang et al, ; McDowell et al, ; a wider topographical distribution of P3b amplitude as shown in Figure b).…”

“…Specifically, physical activity‐related topographic shifts in P3b amplitude were found, suggesting compensatory brain activation in aging adults to support cognitive control and attention processes (Hillman et al, , ; Huang et al, ; McDowell et al, ; a wider topographical distribution of P3b amplitude as shown in Figure b). Further, P3b amplitude differentiated physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness‐related changes in cognition among individuals with different characteristics (i.e., age, weight status, preferred physical activity type) (Chang, Chu, et al, ; Huang et al, ; Pontifex et al, ; Song et al, ; Tsai & Wang, ; Tsai, Wang, et al, ). Longitudinal studies designed to increase physical activity or cardiorespiratory fitness further demonstrated that chronic physical activity interventions resulted in increases in P3b amplitude (Chang, Tsai, et al, ; Hillman et al, ; Hsieh et al, ; Ludyga et al, ; Ozkaya et al, ; Tsai et al, ), and such effects were found to be positively associated with the dose of physical activity delivered through a moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity after‐school physical activity intervention in children (Hillman et al, ).…”

Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Inhibitory Control in Elderly Women: An fNIRS Study

“…Prior studies on the cognitive benefits of mind-body exercises have not generally focused on neurological mechanisms, but those which did have primarily utilized electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (Chang et al, 2017;Tao et al, 2017b). Functional nearinfrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a neuroimaging technique for investigating cortical hemodynamic responses (Chen T.T.…”