Physical activity and performance in executive function tasks in healthy older adults: preliminary data

Authors

  • Andreza Giuliane Guimarães Moreira Centro Municipal de Atenção Domiciliar em Saúde
  • Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas; Departamento de Psicologia
  • Daniel Fuentes Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Hospital das Clínicas; Instituto de Psiquiatria
  • Humberto Correa UFMG; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Departamento de Farmacologia
  • Guilherme Menezes Lage UFMG

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832010000300003

Keywords:

Cognition, physical education and training, dancing, health, aging

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Physical activity seems to produce positive effects on many cognitive processes in elderly people. Nevertheless, little is known about the impact of sequential physical activity, such as dancing, on the executive functions in older adults. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, in elderly people, the relation between the type of physical practice and the performance in executive functions. METHODS: Thirty five older adults, age 60-69, participated in this study. The control group (CD) was composed by sedentary participants; the physical activity group (PAG) was composed by practitioners of physical activity; the dance group (DG) was composed by practitioner of identical physical activity to the PAG plus practice of senior dance. After an initial triage, executive function tests were administered for all participants. RESULTS: Compared to the other groups, the DG presented better performance in the measures of planning (Tower of London) and inhibitory control (Stroop test). DISCUSSION: The preliminary findings suggest a specificity of physical activity on the performance of some executive functions. Our perspective is to find the same results with a larger sample.

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Published

2010-01-01

Issue

Vol. 37 No. 3 (2010)

Section

Original Articles

License

Once accepted for publication, the manuscript becomes permanent property of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry. This copyright transfer subsumes exclusive and unlimited entitlement of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry to publish and distribute the full contents of articles in whichever publishing medium, including press and electronic media, in Brazil and abroad.

Manuscripts are accepted with the understanding that the Editor and the editorial staff have the right to make revisions aimed at greater conciseness, clarity, and conformity with Journal style, of course without changing its content.

How to Cite

Physical activity and performance in executive function tasks in healthy older adults: preliminary data . (2010). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 37(3), 109-112. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832010000300003