1PhD Scholar, Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
2Assistant Professor, Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
Online published on 14 October, 2021.
Aging causes natural neurodegenerative changes which results in various neurological problems and therefore leads to many brain-health issues among which cognitive problems are the most common. The relationship between increased physical activity (PA) and brain health has been conjectured for centuries. PA is known to improve brain health (physiologically, psychologically and structurally).
While most of the studies have focused on physiological and psychological mechanism, only recently have the structural changes and mechanisms underlying this relationship began to emerge particularly in older adult population. Considering this gap in previous literature, here we aim to provide a review regarding the brain-structural changes underlying positive effects of PA on brain health in older adults.
A review was conducted including the studies which meet the following criteria: (1) Reviews and Studies (cohort, longitudinal, cross-sectional and randomized control trial) indexed in PubMed. (2) Studies including the interventional effect of PA on structural brain health. (3) Studies relative to older adult population (4) Not relative to specific biology and health status. (4) Not relative to specific type, duration, intensity and frequency of PA. (5) Published in English from January 1990 onwards. (6) Electronically available.
Results from reviews and studies with healthy older adults, frail patients, and persons suffering from mild cognitive impairment were studied and discussed. Together these finding suggest that PA is a promising non-pharmaceutical intervention to improve various cognitive domains, prevent age-related cognitive decline and reduce the risk of developing cognitive impairment in older adult population by supporting the brain (structurally and functionally).
The review suggests that PA benefits the cognitive functioning involving various beneficial structural and functional changes of brain, during late periods of lifespan and in other older adult populations having mild cognitive deficits but there is a need of a metanalysis which could prove this hypothesis.
Aging, Neurodegeneration, Cognitive impairment, Physical activity, Brain structure, Mechanism
