Effects of exercise on neurobehavioral function in community-dwelling older people more than 75 years of age

We evaluated the effects of exercise on neurobehavioral function in healthy older people more than 75 years of age.

A randomized controlled trial with 6-month follow-up was conducted.

The study was performed in the rural town of Kahoku, Japan, the population of which is considered representative of the older population of Japan.

We studied 42 healthy volunteers (18 men and 24 women; mean age, 79 years (range 75 to 87 years)) who were randomly assigned to one of two groups, exercise or control.

Subjects assigned to the exercise group were instructed to exercise for 60 minutes twice a week for 6 months. Subjects in the control group were not instructed to engage in an specific exercise regimen.

The following measurements were recorded for both groups at baseline and at 6-month follow-up: (1) Neurobehavioral function as determined by the following tests: Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Hasegawa Dementia Scale Revised (HDSR), Visuospatial Cognitive Performance Test (VCP-test), Button score, Up & Go test, and Functional Reach; and (2) Body mass index and blood pressure.

The effects of exercise were shown in the Up & Go test, and Functional Reach (ANOVA with repeated measures).

This study demonstrates the acceptability and effectiveness of exercise on neurobehavioral function, even in older people more than 75 years of age.