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Effects of Different Intensity of Acute Resistance Training on Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Oral Presentation
Paper ID : 1187-11THCONF
Authors
1دانشگاه علامه طباطبایی
2Department of Sport Psychology, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Aging is not only associated with reductions in the performance of most physiological systems but also structural, physiological changes in the brain are common, as it has been well documented in the scientific literature. Cognitive processing, also because of the brain changes in terms of decrease in its volume, in the concentration, synthesis, and the number of receptor sites for neurotransmitters, is affected by aging. Resistance exercise is a cost-effective method that is associated with numerous physical benefits. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of acute bouts of low and moderate resistance training on the cognitive functions in older adults.
Methodology: To this end, forty older adults (20 men and 20 women; age range: 60-75 years) were randomly assigned to exercise or active control groups. Participants in the exercise group completed resistance exercise bouts performed at 40% and 70% their individual 10-repetition maximum for 45 min in separate sessions, whereas the control group watched an exercise-related video. To assess immediate and delayed effects of exercise on cognitive functioning, working memory, response inhibition, and cognitive flexibility were assessed before the beginning of the exercise's training (pre-test), and 15-min and 180-min after the end of exercises training (15-min post-test and 180-min post-test; respectively).
Results: Results showed an improvement in the post-test in the cognitive function tasks performance for the participants of the resistance-training group compared to the control group. As for the resistance-training group, the training gains were i) larger when moderate intensity training was compared to the low one, ii) similar for both women and men, and iii) larger if tested 15-min after the resistance exercise.
Discussion: Given that older adults are often concerned about maintaining their cognitive function with the ageing, these findings can be used to encourage older individuals to participate in resistance exercise programs. As resistance training benefits were reliable on cognition function, it is important to design an appropriate exercise prescription to get the maximum beneficial effects.
Methodology: To this end, forty older adults (20 men and 20 women; age range: 60-75 years) were randomly assigned to exercise or active control groups. Participants in the exercise group completed resistance exercise bouts performed at 40% and 70% their individual 10-repetition maximum for 45 min in separate sessions, whereas the control group watched an exercise-related video. To assess immediate and delayed effects of exercise on cognitive functioning, working memory, response inhibition, and cognitive flexibility were assessed before the beginning of the exercise's training (pre-test), and 15-min and 180-min after the end of exercises training (15-min post-test and 180-min post-test; respectively).
Results: Results showed an improvement in the post-test in the cognitive function tasks performance for the participants of the resistance-training group compared to the control group. As for the resistance-training group, the training gains were i) larger when moderate intensity training was compared to the low one, ii) similar for both women and men, and iii) larger if tested 15-min after the resistance exercise.
Discussion: Given that older adults are often concerned about maintaining their cognitive function with the ageing, these findings can be used to encourage older individuals to participate in resistance exercise programs. As resistance training benefits were reliable on cognition function, it is important to design an appropriate exercise prescription to get the maximum beneficial effects.
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