The effects of acute exercise on memory of cognitively healthy seniors: A systematic review

Nathália Griebler; Nadja Schröder; Milena Artifon; Michele Frigotto; Caroline Pietta-Dias

doi:10.1016/j.archger.2021.104583

The effects of acute exercise on memory of cognitively healthy seniors: A systematic review

Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2022 Mar-Apr:99:104583. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104583. Epub 2021 Nov 19.

Authors

Nathália Griebler¹, Nadja Schröder², Milena Artifon³, Michele Frigotto³, Caroline Pietta-Dias⁴

Affiliations

¹ Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Dance, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 750 Felizardo St, Porto Alegre, RS 90690-200, Brazil. Electronic address: nathigriebler@hotmail.com.
² Physiology Department, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq), Brasília, Brazil. Electronic address: nadja_s@terra.com.br.
³ Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Dance, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 750 Felizardo St, Porto Alegre, RS 90690-200, Brazil.
⁴ Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Dance, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 750 Felizardo St, Porto Alegre, RS 90690-200, Brazil. Electronic address: carolpieta@yahoo.com.br.

PMID: 34861591
DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104583

Abstract

Objective: To systematically review the acute effects of physical exercise on memory in healthy elderly people.

Methods: The present study consists of a systematic review based on the criteria of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta - Analyzes (PRISMA). Searches were carried out in the health databases: PubMed (Medline); ScienceDirect (Elsevier); SciELO, Cochrane and LILACS, including articles published until April 2021. The included studies should be randomized clinical trials in healthy elderly populations, have acute physical exercise as an intervention compared to another type of exercise or to a control session, and assess memory as an outcome.

Results: A total of 3711 records were found in the databases. After reading titles and abstracts, 27 full texts of studies were selected. A total of 10 records met the inclusion criteria and were considered eligible for qualitative analysis. The total sample consisted of 465 healthy individuals, of both sexes, aged between 60 and 95 years. The aerobic and resistance exercises performed at low (7-11 Borg scale, 54% FCM or 40-54% 1RM) and moderate intensities (12-15 Borg scale, 50-70% FCM and 55-75% 1RM) lead to memory improvement in cognitively healthy elderly people.

Conclusions: The paucity of studies with this population, using higher exercise intensities, as well as a reduced variety of memory tests, were limiting factors. Maintaining a training routine is important, in order to preserve physical and mental health. More studies addressing the effects of exercise protocols in healthy individuals are warranted.

Keywords: Acute effects; Aerobic exercise; Cognitive health; Elderly; Memory; Physical exercise; Resistance exercise.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Exercise Therapy*
Exercise*
Female
Humans
Male