Poor physical fitness is associated with impaired memory, executive function, and depression in institutionalized older adults: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the association between physical fitness, cognitive function, and depressive symptoms among older adults in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Methods: Seventy-six institutionalized male and female elderly individuals (65 years and older) living in LTCFs participated of this study. Physical fitness (aerobic capacity and strength), cognitive functions (global cognition, short-term and working and semantic memories, and executive function), and depressive symptoms were assessed. Linear regression and contingency analyses were performed. Significance was accepted at p-values p 0.05. Results: Aerobic capacity predicted 32% of variance in global cognition (p o 0.01) and 25% of variance in semantic fluency/executive function (p o 0.01). Low levels of upper limb strength, lower limb strength, and aerobic capacity were associated with semantic fluency/executive function (OR = 1.38, p = 0.01, OR = 1.26, p = 0.03, and OR = 1.07, p = 0.01, respectively) and depressive symptoms (OR = 1.06, p o 0.01). Conclusion:Poor physical fitness is associated with cognition and depressive symptoms in institutionalized older adults. Low levels of strength and aerobic fitness increase the odds of presenting with impaired semantic fluency and executive function, possibly denoting an increased risk of developing dementia.

Exploring the Associations between Functional Capacity, Cognitive Function and Well-Being in Older Adults

“…The positive association found in the present study between functional capacity and global cognitive function is consistent with previous studies [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. Furthermore, even though all parameters of functional capacity correlated with global cognition, 6MWT presented the highest correlation, indicating the importance of preserving aerobic fitness in older adults.…”

“…The symbol cancellation test, the measure of executive function examined in the current study, requires abilities such as neglect, visuospatial function, organizational process and selective attention [ 30 , 32 , 33 ], which are important for performing activities of daily living (ADL) [ 59 ] and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) [ 22 ]. Even though only a few studies have examined the executive function–functional capacity relationship, the findings of the present study are consistent with previous results showing a positive association of aspects of executive function with various functional capacity parameters in older adults, such as cardiorespiratory fitness [ 49 , 53 , 60 ], handgrip and lower extremity strength [ 49 , 61 , 62 ]. Interestingly, in the present study, the observed association of functional capacity with executive function was higher than global cognition in almost all measured parameters, with the HGS presenting the strongest association.…”

Effects of Exergames on Brain and Cognition in Older Adults: A Review Based on a New Categorization of Combined Training Intervention

“…Indeed, in total, among the 11 studies which addressed this question, 8 did not observe any superiority of exergaming over the different forms of conventional training. This result, which was observed independent of the kind of training mode or the used exergames, somewhat contradicts previous reviews (e.g., Stanmore et al, 2017 ) and the optimism that sometimes prevails about their potential to become the new preventive, anti-aging, medicine (e.g., Monteiro-Junior et al, 2021 ). On the other hand, it consistent with the conclusion of other recent reviews on exergames ( Zhang and Kaufman, 2016 ; Stojan and Voelcker-Rehage, 2019 ; Gallou-Guyot et al, 2020 ; Sala et al, 2021 ; Soares et al, 2021 ; Temprado, 2021 ) and also, those on conventional combined training grounded on a categorization and a structured framework similar to the present work ( Torre and Temprado, 2022 ).…”

“…With respect to the release of neurotrophic factors, it could be that cognitive stimulation had an added value to physical exercise ( Monteiro-Junior et al, 2016 , 2021 ), as it has been suggested for conventional combined training interventions ( Fissler et al, 2013 ; Bamidis et al, 2014 ; Torre and Temprado, 2022 ). This hypothesis is consistent with the results reported by Anderson-Hanley et al (2012) , according to whom two complementary explanations can be proposed: (i) the physical effort generated by exergames stimulates the peripheral release of neurotrophic factors (mainly BDNF, VEGF, IGF-1, FGF2, and GDNF), which finally cross the blood–brain barrier and enhances neuro plasticity mechanisms and, (ii) gamified environments stimulate brain processes and regions that are activated according to cognitive demands, increasing the release of centrally occurring neurotrophic factors ( Monteiro-Junior et al, 2016 , 2021 ). Nevertheless, due to the small number of studies, the mechanisms at work during exergaming are still not fully elucidated and these hypotheses should be confirmed by future works.…”

Research on the effect of different aerobic activity on physical fitness and executive function in primary school students

“…Brain connectivity and executive function are directly and positively affected by physical fitness, eg. cardiopulmonary fitness, muscle strength, speed sensitivity, flexibility quality 33,34 . Therefore, we further to investigated the effect of different exercise interventions on executive function in children.…”