A new study led by neuroscientists at UF's College of Public Health and Health Professions has shed light on the benefits of exercise for seniors aged 85 to 99. The research indicates that individuals in this age group who engage in a combination of aerobic and strength-training exercises tend to perform better on cognitive tests than those who are sedentary or solely engage in cardio workouts.
Published in the journal GeroScience on July 31, this study included 184 cognitively healthy participants who self-reported their exercise routines and general physical activities. Subsequently, they underwent a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests to assess their cognitive abilities.
Brian Ho, a Ph.D. candidate in clinical and health psychology and the lead author of the study, shared the findings.
"We found that engagement in exercise in very old age appears related to better cognition, particularly for tasks requiring quick thinking and flexibility in approach," Ho noted.
"In addition, we found that the best performances on cognitive tasks were from individuals engaging in both aerobic and strength training exercises."
A noteworthy aspect of this research was the participation rate in physical exercise among the elderly. Nearly 70 percent of the study's participants reported engaging in some form of physical activity, surpassing the researchers' expectations. This suggests that exercising in older age is feasible in consultation with one's healthcare provider.
The research team, which included Ronald Cohen, PhD, and neuroscientists from UF's Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory Clinical Translational Research, collaborated with the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institutes at the University of Arizona, University of Miami, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Southern California.
One of the cognitive tests, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), revealed that the "sedentary" group of 58 participants had a mean score of 24. In contrast, the "cardio" group of 60 participants achieved a mean score of 25.08, while the "cardio + strength training" group of 66 participants had the highest mean score at 25.28.
Various other tests were administered, including the NIH Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function, the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS questionnaire), and the Stroop Color and Word Test, in addition to coding, symbol search, and letter fluency tests.
After controlling for years of education, the researchers observed that the cardio + strength-training group consistently demonstrated the highest cognitive performance overall. This group scored significantly better on coding and symbol search compared to the sedentary group. They also outperformed the cardio group in symbol search, letter fluency, and the Stroop task.
Brian Ho emphasised the importance of studying individuals with impressive longevity, like the participants in this study, to understand what contributes to their durability.
"Our findings suggest engagement in various forms of physical exercise may be an important component of that durability in people 85 years and older," he noted.
Looking into the future, there is potential for physical exercise interventions in this age group to be explored as a means of addressing neurocognitive disorders, such as mild cognitive impairment.
