Resistance Exercise Program in Cognitively Normal Older Adults: CERT-Based Exercise Protocol of the AGUEDA Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Exercise Science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Cognitive decline in aging is a growing concern.
• Resistance exercise shows potential for mitigating age-related cognitive changes.
• Standardized exercise reporting is crucial for reproducibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the resistance exercise program of the AGUEDA trial using the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT).
• To investigate the effects of a 24-week supervised resistance exercise program on executive function and brain health in older adults.
• To assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the implemented exercise program.

Main Methods:

• 90 cognitively normal older adults (65-80 years) were randomized to a resistance exercise or control group.
• The exercise group (n=46) completed 180 min/week of supervised resistance training for 24 weeks.
• Exercises used elastic bands and body weight, with intensity based on RPE (7-8), repetitions, and complexity.

Main Results:

• The AGUEDA exercise program demonstrated high feasibility with 95.6% retention and 85.7% adherence.
• A very low rate of serious adverse events (1%) and a low cost (€144.23/participant) were reported.
• The program involved a combination of upper/lower limb exercises with progressive resistance.

Conclusions:

• The AGUEDA resistance exercise program is feasible, cost-effective, and well-tolerated by older adults.
• The detailed CERT-based description facilitates replication by public health professionals and the general public.
• The study predicts positive effects of this 24-week program on brain health in cognitively normal older adults.