Journal article
Exercise as a Strategy for Healthy Brain Aging: A Pilot Study
Austin journal of nursing & health care, Vol.8(1), 1056
27 Jan 2021
Abstract
Background: Nonpharmacologic strategies including exercise, nutrition, and cognitive stimulation are important for healthy aging, benefitting physical and psychological status and possibly cognition.
Purpose: To promote healthy aging and brain health by evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of 150 minutes of weekly exercise over four-months in older adults.
Methods: One-group pre-test post-test pilot.
Sample/Setting: Forty older adults from a Continuing Care Retirement Community signed informed consent.
Measures: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9), Older People’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Sixminute Walk Test, Berg Balance Testing, and exercise worksheet (weekly logs) were completed for analysis.
Results: Participation levels and completed activity logs show evidence of study feasibility, with a 12.5% attrition rate, and all 35 participants returning activity logs, and 33 completing final MoCA assessments. The PHQ9 showed no difference from baseline to four months. Non-statistical improvement was noted by 22 (62.8%) on Berg Balance. We identified statistically significant improvements (p=0.031), in MoCA scores and cognitive domains of executive function, attention, working memory, and short-term memory, in a sub-group of 16 residents (76%) among residents reporting less than 150 minutes of baseline physical activity (N=28).
Conclusion/Implications: Results support the study feasibility and need for future research in this area. Scores on memory and balance tests improved, which may encourage regular participation in physical activity. People who were not active at baseline benefitted most. Nurses can be instrumental in promoting holistic measures like exercise to enhance general health status and brain health for older adults.
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Details
- Title
- Exercise as a Strategy for Healthy Brain Aging
- Creators
- Kathleen Mary Fisher - Drexel University, Doctoral NursingLisa M. Bonacquisti - Drexel UniversityR Alhazmi - Drexel UniversityMeaghan M Shattuck - Drexel University, Accelerated Career Entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)Penny E Parker - Drexel University, Accelerated Career Entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Publication Details
- Austin journal of nursing & health care, Vol.8(1), 1056
- Publisher
- Austin Publishing Group
- Number of pages
- 6
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctoral Nursing; Accelerated Career Entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Identifiers
- 991021855511604721