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Exercise and Language Performance in Healthy Aging, Stroke and Neurodegenerative Conditions: a Scoping Review
Roya Khalili1,2,3,4, Eva Kehayia1,2,3, Marc Roig1,2,4
1School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montréal.
Canadian Geriatrics Journal : CGJ
|September 5, 2024
Summary
Exercise can improve language performance in healthy aging individuals. For those with stroke or neurodegenerative conditions, exercise shows selective benefits for certain language skills, like verbal fluency.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- While exercise benefits for cognition are known, its impact on language performance remains under-researched.
- This review focuses on exercise-induced changes in language in healthy aging and clinical populations (stroke, neurodegenerative conditions).
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review to identify existing evidence on exercise's impact on language performance.
- To synthesize findings for healthy aging individuals and adults with stroke or neurodegenerative conditions.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley framework.
- Twenty-nine studies were included in the review.
Main Results:
- Eleven studies in healthy aging showed enhanced language performance, with over 70% improving verbal fluency.
- Among 18 studies on stroke/neurodegenerative conditions, 11 reported better language performance, with significant improvements in picture naming and verbal fluency in 44% of studies.
- Seven studies reported no significant language changes in these clinical groups.
Conclusions:
- Exercise interventions demonstrate improvements in language performance in healthy aging populations.
- Selective enhancements in language performance were observed in individuals with stroke or neurodegenerative conditions following exercise.
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