MELHORA DO EQUILÍBRIO DE IDOSAS HÍGIDAS APÓS TREINAMENTO COGNITIVO DA FUNÇÃO EXECUTIVA, ATENÇÃO E MEMÓRIA

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi verificar se o equilíbrio pode ser melhorado com o treinamento de funções cognitivas recrutadas para a marcha: função executiva, atenção e memória. Participaram do estudo 60 idosas com idade média 70,65 ± 5 anos, que foram randomicamente divididas em Grupo Controle (GC = 30) e Grupo Experimental (GE = 30). As avaliações foram realizadas com os testes de equilíbrio (TUG), força de membros inferiores (TSL), função executiva (Wisconsin), atenção e memória operacional (Dígito-WAIS), além dos testes de nível de atividade física (Baecke), rastreio cognitivo (MEEM), e sintomas depressivos (EDG) para caracterizar a amostra. O protocolo de treinamento cognitivo era composto por 24 sessões de treinamento de função executiva, resolução de problemas, atenção e memória. Os resultados mostraram que houve melhora do equilíbrio (p < 0,001) do grupo experimental, assim como da função executiva, atenção e memória (p < 0,001) e também da força de membros inferiores (p = 0,002). O treinamento cognitivo específico de funções executivas, atenção, memória operacional e resolução de problemas promove a melhora do equilíbrio de idosas.

Attenuation of neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver burden in Alzheimer's disease by motor intervention: a controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of motor intervention on the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and on the caregivers' burden. DESIGN: This is a controlled trial evaluating the effects of a motor intervention program on the neuropsychiatric symptoms. SETTING: The intervention was performed on community patients from two university centers specializing in physical exercise for the elderly. SUBJECTS: Patients with Alzheimer's disease were divided into two groups: sixteen received the motor intervention and sixteen controls (five controls were excluded because of clinical intercurrences). INTERVENTIONS: Aerobic exercises (flexibility, strength, and agility) and functional balance exercises were conducted over six months for 60 minutes three times per week. MAIN MEASURES: Psychopathological features of patients were evaluated with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. Caregivers were evaluated using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Distress and Burden Interview. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to observe interactions (pre- vs. post-intervention; participants vs. controls). RESULTS: Patients from the intervention presented a significant reduction in neuropsychiatric conditions when compared to controls (Neuropsychiatric Inventory: F: 11.12; p = 0.01; Cornell Depression scale: F: 11.97; p = 0.01). The burden and stress of caregivers responsible for patients who participated in the intervention significantly decreased when compared to caregivers responsible for controls (Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Distress: F: 9.37; p = 0.01; Burden Interview: F: 11.28; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic exercise was associated with a reduction in the neuropsychiatric symptoms and contributed to attenuate the caregivers' burden. However, the researchers were not blinded to the patient's intervention status, which constitutes an important limitation of this study

The low oxygen consumption is reflected on depression scores in elderly

The study aimed to investigate the effects of different types of exercise in indicative scores of depression in the elderly. Participated 168 elderly volunteers of both sexes, aged 60-75 years (65.66 ± 4.28 years), 40 women and 128 men. The volunteers were divided into seven distinct groups: a) Sedentary control (n = 40); b) Resisted control (n = 23); c) Walking (n = 23); d) Outdoor (n = 20); e) Cycle ergometer (n = 23); f) Resisted 50% of 1RM (n = 19); and g) Resisted 80% of 1RM (n = 20), and subjected to a protocol of six months of physical training three times a week. The group a remained without changing their routine activities during the study period and did not engage in any exercise program, as the group b appeared in the laboratory, but performed the exercises without charge. Before and immediately after the study period, the volunteers underwent an evaluation protocol for determination of oxygen consumption and responded to the Geriatric Depression Scale. The results revealed that the groups c and e, who exercised at intensities with predominant aerobic metabolism, showed reduction in depression scores, and other measures were not sufficient to promote reduction in this variable. The data suggest that exercise dominance in aerobic metabolism is more effective in reducing depression scores in elderly.O objetivo do estudo foi investigar os efeitos de diferentes tipos de exercício físico nos escores indicativos de depressão em idosos. Participaram 168 voluntários idosos, de ambos os sexos, com idades de 60 a 75 anos (65,66±4,28 anos), sendo 40 mulheres e 128 homens. Os voluntários foram alocados em sete grupos distintos: a) Controle sedentário (n=40); b) Controle resistido (n=23); c) Caminhada (n=23); d) Lazer (n= 20); e) Cicloergômetro (n=23); f) Resistido 50% de 1RM (n=19); e g) Resistido 80% de 1RM (n=20), sendo submetidos a um protocolo de seis meses de treinamento físico, três vezes por semana. O grupo a permaneceu sem alterar suas atividades de rotina durante o período de estudo e não se engajou em nenhum programa de exercício físico, já o grupo b compareceu no laboratório, mas realizou os exercícios sem carga. Antes e imediatamente após o período de estudo, os voluntários foram submetidos a um protocolo de avaliação para determinação do consumo de oxigênio e responderam à Escala Geriátrica de Depressão. Os resultados revelaram que os grupos c e e, que se exercitaram em intensidades com predomínio do metabolismo aeróbio, apresentaram redução nos escores de depressão, sendo que as demais intervenções não foram suficientes para promover redução nessa variável. Os dados sugerem que exercícios com predominância no metabolismo aeróbio são mais efetivos em promover reduções em escores de depressão de idosos.Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e ExercícioUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de BiociênciasUniversidade Federal do ABC Centro de Matemática, Computação e CogniçãoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de BiociênciasUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de PsicobiologiaSciEL

Respiratory training as strategy to prevent cognitive decline in aging: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Inadequate oxygenation may cause lesions and brain atrophy during aging. Studies show a positive association between pulmonary function and the cognitive performance of individuals from middle age on.Objective: To investigate the effect of aerobic physical exercises and respiratory training on the blood oxygenation, pulmonary functions, and cognition of the elderly.Design: This was a randomized and controlled trial with three parallel groups. A total of 195 community-dwelling elderly were assessed for eligibility; only n=102 were included and allocated into the three groups, but after 6 months, n=68 were analyzed in the final sample. Participants were randomized into a social interaction group (the control group), an aerobic exercise group (the &quot;walking&quot; group), or a respiratory training group (the &quot;breathing&quot; group). The main outcome measures were the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Wechsler Memory Scale, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, respiratory muscular strength, cirtometry (thoracic-abdominal circumference); oxygen saturation in arterial blood (SpO(2)), and hemogram.Results: No differences were observed for any of the blood parameters. Aerobic exercise and respiratory training were effective in improving the pulmonary parameters. Better cognitive performance was observed for the breathing group as regards abstraction and mental flexibility. The walking group remained stable in the cognitive performance of most of the tests, except attention. The control group presented worst performance in mental manipulation of information, abstraction, mental flexibility, and attention.Conclusion: Our results showed that both the walking and breathing groups presented improvement of pulmonary function. However, only the breathing group showed improved cognitive function (abstraction, mental flexibility). The improvement in cognitive functions cannot be explained by blood parameters, such as SpO(2), erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Rate of cognitive decline in relation to sex after 60 years-of-age: A systematic review

Some studies have shown differences in specific cognitive ability domains between the sexes at 60 years-of-age. However is important to analyze whether the rate of cognitive decline is also similar between the sexes after this age. the present study examined previously published literature to investigate whether cognitive decline is distinct between men and women after the age of 60 years. A systematic review was carried out with the PubMed, LILACS and PsycINFO databases (2001-2011) using the following search terms: aging, aged, cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment, mental health and cognition. We analyzed longitudinal research that used neuropsychological tests for evaluating cognitive function, showed results separated by sex and that excluded participants with dementia. Elderly women showed better performance in tests of episodic memory, whereas elderly men had a better visuospatial ability. Only one study detected distinct rates of cognitive decline in specific tests between the sexes. Despite differences observed in some domains, most of the studies showed that this rate is similar between the sexes until the age of 80 years. It is unclear whether sex influences the rate of cognitive decline after the age of 80 years. the present review observed that sex does not determine the rate of cognitive decline between 60 and 80 years-of-age. the contextual and cultural factors that involve men and women might determine a distinct decline between them, rather than sex alone. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 23-31.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed ABC, Ctr Math Computat & Cognit, Santo Andre, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual São Paulo, Inst Biosci, Rio Claro, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Possible Cognitive Benefits of Acute Physical Exercise in Children With ADHD: A Systematic Review

Objective: Studies have suggested that even a single session of physical exercise enhances executive functions. ADHD is among the most common developmental disorders in childhood, but little is known about alternative treatments for this disorder. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of the literature to analyze articles that evaluated the executive functions of children with ADHD after an acute exercise session. Method: We reviewed articles indexed in the PubMed, American Psychiatric Association (APA) psychNET, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge databases between 1980 and 2013. Results: Of 231 articles selected, only three met the inclusion criteria. Conclusion: Based on these 3 articles, we concluded that 30 min of physical exercise reportedly improved the executive functions of children with ADHD. Due to the small number of articles selected, further studies are needed to confirm these benefits.FAPESP [2011/08387-6]AFIPCNPqUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, Rua Napoleao de Barros 925, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed ABC, Ctr Math Comp & Cognit, Santo Andre, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, Rua Napoleao de Barros 925, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

MELHORA DO EQUILÍBRIO DE IDOSAS HÍGIDAS APÓS TREINAMENTO COGNITIVO DA FUNÇÃO EXECUTIVA, ATENÇÃO E MEMÓRIA

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi verificar se o equilíbrio pode ser melhorado com o treinamento de funções cognitivas recrutadas para a marcha: função executiva, atenção e memória. Participaram do estudo 60 idosas com idade média 70,65 ± 5 anos, que foram randomicamente divididas em Grupo Controle (GC = 30) e Grupo Experimental (GE = 30). As avaliações foram realizadas com os testes de equilíbrio (TUG), força de membros inferiores (TSL), função executiva (Wisconsin), atenção e memória operacional (Dígito-WAIS), além dos testes de nível de atividade física (Baecke), rastreio cognitivo (MEEM), e sintomas depressivos (EDG) para caracterizar a amostra. O protocolo de treinamento cognitivo era composto por 24 sessões de treinamento de função executiva, resolução de problemas, atenção e memória. Os resultados mostraram que houve melhora do equilíbrio (p &lt; 0,001) do grupo experimental, assim como da função executiva, atenção e memória (p &lt; 0,001) e também da força de membros inferiores (p = 0,002). O treinamento cognitivo específico de funções executivas, atenção, memória operacional e resolução de problemas promove a melhora do equilíbrio de idosas.

Ginkgo Biloba Extract in an Animal Model of Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review

Although the exact cause of neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease is not known, evidence points to oxidative stress and the production of reactive oxygen species as the main events that occur in the substantia nigra pars compacta of the brain of parkinsonians. EGb761 is an extract of the leaves from the Ginkgo biloba tree that has been reported as an antioxidant and neuroprotective agent. The objective of this work was to perform a systematic review of the studies that analysed the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on Parkinson's disease or Parkinsonism. This research was conducted using the following databases: Medline, PsycInfo, Cinahl, Sigle, Lilacs, Scielo, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Initially, we selected 32 articles. After a more detailed analysis, only 10 articles remained. One of the hypotheses for the positive effect of EGb761 on Parkinson's disease is the reduction or inhibition of monoamine-oxidase activity. This enzyme metabolises dopamine, inducing the formation of free radicals, which in turn damage nigrostriatal neurons. Another hypothesis is that the neuroprotective effect of EGb761 against 6-hydroxydopamine, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and MPP+ toxins. As there are few studies on the effect of EGb761 on humans, this review could contribute new data to further the discussion of this issue.Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Dept Phys Educ, Rio Claro, BrazilUniv Fed ABC, Ctr Math Comp & Cognit, Santo Andre, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Systematized physical activity and cognitive performance in elderly with Alzheimer's dementia: a systematic review

OBJETIVO : Apesar da crescente evidência dos benefícios do exercício físico para a cognição, existem controvérsias a respeito da prática de atividade física sistematizada em pacientes com doença de Alzheimer. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi o de realizar uma revisão sistemática dos estudos que analisaram o efeito da atividade física sistematizada no desempenho cognitivo em idosos com doença de Alzheimer. MÉTODO : Efetuou-se uma pesquisa na PsycINFO, Biological Abstracts, Medline, Web of Science, Physical Education Index e SPORTDiscus, no período de 1990 a 2008, utilizando-se as seguintes palavras-chave: physical activity, physical therapy, exercise, fitness, aerobic, strength, intervention, cognition, cognitive performance, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer's dementia, Alzheimer, além de referências cruzadas dos artigos selecionados. RESULTADOS: Foram encontrados oito estudos que preencheram os critérios de inclusão adotados para o presente trabalho. Estes estudos mostraram que a atividade física sistematizada contribuiu para melhorar pelo menos temporariamente as funções cognitivas em paciente com doença de Alzheimer, particularmente, atenção, funções executivas e linguagem. CONCLUSÃO: Não foi possível estabelecer um protocolo de recomendações a respeito do tipo e intensidade da atividade física sistematizada necessária para produzir benefícios no funcionamento cognitivo. No entanto, a prática regular de atividade física sistematizada parece contribuir para a preservação ou mesmo melhora das funções cognitivas em pacientes com doença de Alzheimer.OBJECTIVE: Despite the growing evidence of the benefits of physical exercise for cognition, there is a controversy about the systematic practice of physical activity in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the objective of this study was to procedure a systematic review of studies that analyzed the effect of systematized physical activity on cognitive performance in elderly individuals with Alzheimer's disease. METHOD: We conducted a search in PsycINFO, Biological Abstracts, Medline, Web of Science, Physical Education and SPORTDiscus Index from 1990 to 2008, using the following keywords: physical activity, physical therapy, exercise, fitness, aerobic, strength, intervention, cognition, cognitive performance, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer's dementia, Alzheimer's, and cross-references of selected articles. RESULTS: There were found eight studies that met inclusion criteria adopted for the present work. These studies showed that systematized physical activity contributed to at least improve temporarily some cognitive functions of patients with Alzheimer's disease, particularly, attention, executive functions and language. CONCLUSION: Unable to establish a protocol of recommendations about the type and intensity of systematized physical activity required to produce benefits in cognitive functioning. However, the practice of regular systematized physical activity appears to contribute to the preservation or improvement of cognitive functions in patients with Alzheimer's disease