Does the diurnal cycle of cortisol explain the relationship between physical performance and cognitive function in older adults?

Background Regular physical activity is a promising strategy to treat and prevent cognitive decline. The mechanisms that mediate these benefits are not fully clear but physical activity is thought to attenuate the harmful effects of chronic psychological stress and hypercortisolism on cognition. However, the circadian pattern of cortisol secretion is complex and it is not known which aspects are most closely associated with increased cognitive function and better physical performance. This is the first study to simultaneously measure cognitive function, the diurnal cycle of salivary cortisol and physical performance in older adults, without cognitive impairment (n = 30) and with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) (n = 30). Results Regression analysis showed that better cognitive function was associated with better physical performance. A greater variance in cortisol levels across the day from morning to evening was associated with better cognitive function and physical performance. Conclusions The results support the idea that a more dynamic cortisol secretion pattern is associated with better cognitive function and physical performance even in the presence of cognitive impairment, but our results could not confirm a mediating role in this relationship

Physical Exercise for Health and Performance Post-Pandemic COVID-19 Era, a Renewed Emphasis on Public Health

After the period of forced quarantine due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the physiological principle of detraining became more evident than ever [...]

Exercise, the diurnal cycle of cortisol and cognitive impairment in older adults

Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of developing Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's disease as well as to improve cognition in healthy and cognitively impaired individuals. However, the mechanisms of these benefits are not well understood. The stress hypothesis suggests that the cognitive benefits attributed to exercise may partially be mediated by changes in the cortisol secretion pattern. Chronic stress may increase the risk of AD and exacerbate the cognitive deficits and brain pathology characteristic of the condition while physical activity has been shown to attenuate most of stress consequences and risk factors for AD. Initially, research on the effects of cortisol on cognition and physical activity focused on cortisol levels at one time point but the circadian pattern of cortisol secretion is complex and it is still unclear which aspects are most closely associated with cognitive function. Thus, the aim of this review was to analyze the exercise/stress/cognition hypothesis focusing on the effects of the diurnal cycle of cortisol on cognitive function and physical activity in older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, Exercise, Physical activity, Cognition, Cortiso

Posicionamiento de la National Strength and Conditioning Association-Spain. Entrenamiento con electroestimulación de cuerpo completo

El objetivo de este artículo fue establecer, a partir de una revisión sistemática sobre la metodología del entrenamiento y los efectos sobre el organismo de la electroestimulación de cuerpo completo (en inglés, whole body electromyostimulation [WB-EMS]), el posicionamiento de la National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)-Spain al respecto. Se buscaron en PubMed, Web of Science, Physiotherapy Evidence Database y Google Académico estudios que aplicasen WB-EMS en miembro superior e inferior, describiendo claramente el protocolo. Se analizaron 9 artículos. El protocolo habitual de entrenamiento con WB-EMS consistió en 3 sesiones de 20-30 min cada 2 semanas (85 Hz y ratio contracción-reposo de 4-4 o 6-4 s). La WB-EMS parece un medio poco eficaz para mejorar la fuerza máxima y no hay evidencias rigurosas que indiquen que disminuya la grasa corporal. La relación entre riesgo asumido y beneficio aportado hace que sean más recomendables otros medios de entrenamiento para la mejora de la fuerza muscular y para la modificación de la composición corporal