16 research outputs found
Outdoor fitness equipment in parks: a qualitative study from older adults’ perceptions
Effectiveness of a multicomponent exercise program in the attenuation of frailty in long-term nursing home residents: study protocol for a randomized clinical controlled trial
Comparison of tai chi vs. strength training for fall prevention among female cancer survivors: study protocol for the GET FIT trial
Low level of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in elderly: a systematic review of the parameters
An examination of the mechanisms underlying the effects of physical activity on brain and cognition
Physical activity positively influences brain
health and cognitive functioning in older adults. Several
physiological and psychological mechanisms have been
identified to underlie such a relationship. Cardiovascular
fitness is accompanied with changes in mechanisms such
as cerebral blood flow, neurotrophic factors, neurotransmitter
systems and neural architecture that have themselves
been associated with cognitive performance. Factors associated
with exercise such as arousal, mood and self-perception
of competence seem also to influence cognitive performance.
Other explanation for the benefits of exercise in
cognition, results from the fact that the performance of
motor skills involve an important cognitive component
(e.g., executive functions and information processing
speed). Evidence of brain plasticity and behavior has been
provided from studies where animals are exposed to
enriched or complex environments. Exposure to such paradigms
in which physical activity plays an important role has
been found to influence various aspects of brain function
and structure. Studies using neuroimaging techniques have
established a link between the acquisition of different motor
skills and the occurrence of neuroplasticity in human adults.
This literature review indicates that the type of exercise and
its specific perceptual and cognitive characteristics may
influence cognitive performance. However, most of the
research has been focused on self-paced movements or automatized skills and few intervention studies have examined
the results of merging exercise and cognitive training in
a single program. An important scientific challenge for the
coming years is to design exercise programs capable of
mobilizing several type of mechanisms underlying the
effects of physical activity on brain and cognition