Study Protocol on Hormonal Mediation of Exercise on Cognition, Stress and Immunity (PRO-HMECSI): Effects of Different Exercise Programmes in Institutionalized Elders

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) in elders has been shown to have positive effects on a plethora of chronic diseases and to improve immunity, mental health, and cognition. Chronic stress has also been shown to have immuno-suppressive effects and to accelerate immunosenescence. Exercise could be a significant factor in ameliorating the deleterious effects of chronic stress, but variables such as the type, intensity, and frequency of exercise that should be performed in order to effectively reduce the stress burden need to be defined clearly. PRO-HMECSI will allow us to investigate which hormonal and immunological parameters are able to mediate the effects of exercise on mucosal immunity, psychological/biological stress, and cognitive functioning in older people. Phase I consists of an observational cross-sectional study that compares elders groups (n = 223, >65 years) by functional fitness levels aiming to identify biomarkers involved in maintaining immune and mental health. Neuroendocrine and immune biomarkers of stress, psychological well-being related to mental health, neurocognitive function, functional fitness, and daily PA will be evaluated. Phase II consists of a 28-week intervention in elders with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) profile (n = 149, >65 years, divided in three groups of exercise and one control group), aiming to investigate whether the positive effect of three different types of chair-based exercise programs on physical and psychological health is mediated by an optimal endocrine environment. Primary outcomes are measures of cognitive function and global health. Secondary outcomes include the evaluation the other dimensions such as immune function, psychological health, and depression. Few studies addressed the effects of different types of exercise interventions in older population samples with MCI. We will also be able to determine which type of exercise is more effective in the immune and hormonal function of this population.

Strength Training Decreases Inflammation and Increases Cognition and Physical Fitness in Older Women with Cognitive Impairment

“…: CE/FCDEF-UC/000202013] and the protocols used are described in detail in the study protocol paper by Teixeira et al (2016). All the participants completed and signed an informed consent form prior to their enrolment in the study.…”

Impact of Aquatic-Based Physical Exercise Programs on Risk Markers of Cardiometabolic Diseases in Older People: A Study Protocol for Randomized-Controlled Trials

“…Three physical exercise programs will be conducted for a time period of 28 weeks, two times per week (non-consecutive days) and have the following common characteristics: all sessions will have a duration of 45 min, taking into account previous studies [10] that suggest sessions of this duration seem to be sufficient to provide changes in several parameters in the elderly population; they will be aquatic-based (the water level will be between 0.80 and 1.20 m with a temperature of approximately 32 • C); and they will be conducted to the rhythm of music (bpm) that can be adjusted to achieve the target HR. Sessions are divided into three parts: the initial part, main part and final part, with common exercises in the initial and final part of the three programs.…”

“…Such guidelines target the prevention of non-transmissible chronic diseases [6]. Simultaneously, there has been an increase in research using a set of variables that are related to these types of pathologies, such as body composition [7], functional fitness [8], and variables related to the cardiovascular [9], cognitive [4] and immune systems [10].…”

“…Physical exercise is considered an effective tool during the process of ageing, as it helps to stabilize the loss of physical and metabolic capacities, mitigates the overall progress of ageing and enables more autonomy. Various studies indicate that regular physical exercise plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and cognitive diseases [10][11][12][13][14].…”

Blood Pressure Responses in Isokinetic Dynamometry Test in Elderly Community Women: An Exploratory Study

“…Lately the recommendations not only focus in aerobic capacity but also to strength capacity (Peterson, Rhea, Sen, & Gordon, 2010). Nowadays the combined exercise is the best option to preserve the functional capacity and prolong an independent life (Teixeira et al, 2016). Exercise plays an important role in the aid process in control of age-related disorders, however, to be able to assess whether the exercise was effective, it is necessary that individuals who undergo training programs do an assessment test of strength maximum muscle mass.…”