Physical fitness mediates the association between age and cognition in healthy adults

Examining the impact of 28-week multicomponent and strength exercises on brain health, salivary stress, and mental well-being in frail older women: A controlled trial analysis

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the efficacy of various physical exercise programs in enhancing functional fitness among frail older adults has gained recognition. However, limited research has concurrently explored the long-term effects of exercise on brain health, stress biomarkers, and mental well-being. This study aimed to investigate the impact of two distinct chair-based exercise programs on salivary stress hormones and psychological well-being in frail older women over a 28-week period.

METHODS

A total of 140 individuals participated in the enrollment phase, with 84 eligible participants randomly assigned to three groups. Following the intervention, data from 60 participants were analyzed across the multicomponent exercise (MCE, n = 23), elastic band muscle-strength exercise (ESE, n=19), and non-exercise control (CG n=18) groups. Salivary biomarkers of alpha-amylase (α-AMY) Cortisol (COR), alpha-amylase/cortisol ratio, psychological indicators and physical frailty (PF) and functional fitness were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

RESULTS

Salivary COR levels exhibited a significant time × group interaction, with a moderate increase in MCE, a small decrease in ESE, and a substantial increase in CGne. Salivary α-AMY levels varied significantly over time and by group, with a small decrease in both exercise groups and a moderate increase in CGne. The α-AMY /COR ratio also displayed a significant interaction effect. Additionally, significant improvements were observed in PF compound scores, general self-efficacy, attitudes toward aging, and reductions in perceived stress and depressive symptoms (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Notably, the MCE program demonstrated greater benefits than ESE. The observed associations between changes in α-AMY levels, mental well-being, and functional fitness indicators contribute novel evidence on the psychophysiological adaptations to long-term exercise. Importantly, reductions in PF scores correlated with improvements in self-efficacy, attitudes toward aging, and handgrip strength, reinforcing the link between functional fitness, stress regulation, and psychological well-being. These findings emphasize the need for tailored exercise interventions to enhance both physiological resilience and mental health in frail older populations.

Lifestyle Matters: Effects of Habitual Physical Activity on Driving Skills in Older Age

Research on multitasking driving has suggested age-related deterioration in driving performance. It has been shown that physical and cognitive functioning, which are related to driving performance and decline with aging, are positively associated with physical activity behavior. This study aimed to explore whether driving performance decline becomes severe with advancing age and whether physical activity behavior modifies age-related deterioration in driving performance. A total of one hundred forty-one healthy adults were categorized into three groups based on their age; old-old (74.21 ± 2.33 years), young-old (66.53 ± 1.50 years), and young adults (23.25 ± 2.82 years). Participants completed a realistic multitasking driving task. Physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness levels were evaluated. Older groups drove more slowly and laterally than young adults, and old-old adults drove slower than young-old ones across the whole driving course. Physical activity level did not interact with the aging effect on driving performance, whereas cardiovascular fitness interacted. Higher-fitness young-old and young adults drove faster than higher-fitness old-old adults. Higher-fitness old adults drove more laterally than higher-fitness young adults. The present study demonstrated a gradual decline in driving performance in old adults, and cardiorespiratory fitness interacted with the aging effect on driving performance. Future research on the interaction of aging and physical activity behavior on driving performance in different age groups is of great value and may help deepen our knowledge.

Effects of a Brief Stair-Climbing Intervention on Cognitive Functioning and Mood States in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Despite an abundance of evidence that exercise benefits cognition and mood, physical activity levels among older adults remain low, with time and inaccessibility posing major barriers. Interval stair climbing is an accessible time-efficient form of physical activity demonstrated to benefit cognition and mood in young adults, but effectiveness in older adults remains unknown. To address this, 28 older adults (Mage = 69.78 years, 16 females) undertook cognitive and mood assessments twice, 1 week apart, once preceded by interval stair climbing. A fairly large, albeit only marginally significant, effect size (ηp2=.12) indicated improved cognition following the moderate- to high-intensity intervention; however, rather than improving mood, older adults reported feeling more tired (g = 0.51). These outcomes provide initial indications that this mode of exercise that can easily translate to naturalistic settings offers promise as an intervention strategy, but more research is needed to optimize the protocol to suit aged populations (ACTRN1261900169014).