Different types of physical exercise in brain activity of older adults: A systematic review

Sandra Aires Ferreira; Angelica Miki Stein; Natã Gomes de Lima Stavinski; Denilson de Castro Teixeira; Marcos Roberto Queiroga; Juliana Sartori Bonini

doi:10.1016/j.exger.2021.111672

Different types of physical exercise in brain activity of older adults: A systematic review

Exp Gerontol. 2022 Mar:159:111672. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111672. Epub 2021 Dec 24.

Authors

Sandra Aires Ferreira¹, Angelica Miki Stein², Natã Gomes de Lima Stavinski³, Denilson de Castro Teixeira⁴, Marcos Roberto Queiroga⁵, Juliana Sartori Bonini⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Education, Midwestern Parana State University (UNICENTRO), Guarapuava, Brazil. Electronic address: queirogasa@hotmail.com.
² Department of Physical Education, Midwestern Parana State University (UNICENTRO), Guarapuava, Brazil; The Human Performance Research Group, Technological Federal University of Paraná (UTFPR), Curitiba, Brazil.
³ Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise Laboratory, Physical Education and Sports Center (UEL), State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.
⁴ Associated Graduate Program in Physical Education UEM/UEL, Londrina, Brazil.
⁵ Department of Physical Education, Midwestern Parana State University (UNICENTRO), Guarapuava, Brazil; Associated Graduate Program in Physical Education UEM/UEL, Londrina, Brazil.
⁶ Department of Pharmacy, Midwestern Parana State University (UNICENTRO), Guarapuava, Brazil.

PMID: 34958870
DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111672

Abstract

Background: To verify the effects of different modalities of physical exercise on brain activity of older adults.

Methods: Systematic searches were conducted according to the PICOS strategy and the following databases were searched: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo and Scielo. Two independent evaluators performed the initial selection from reading the title and abstract based on the stipulated eligibility criteria.

Results: The searches resulted in 1935 titles, of which 97 were duplicated and 1793 were excluded based on reading the titles and abstracts. This phase resulted in 45 articles for detailed analysis. At this stage, 35 articles were excluded because they did not meet the eligibility criteria. The information for qualitative analysis was extracted from 10 articles that met the criteria.

Conclusion: There was improvement in the brain activity of older adults regardless of the type of physical exercise performed (aerobic, neuromuscular, flexibility or neuromotor), but with a discrete advantage for balance and coordination exercises (neuromotor).

Keywords: Aging; Cerebral blood flow; Cognitive activity; Physical exercise; fNIRS.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Brain
Exercise Therapy*
Exercise*
Humans