Effects of Different Types of Physical Activity on Choice Reaction Time in Elderly Adults

Abstract

PURPOSE: Age related changes in psychomotor speed namely the speed with witch individuals can react to environmental stimuli, has substantial significance for all aspects of life of elderly adults. Experimental studies have been conducted in order to investigate the potential influence of increased physical activity (PA) on health, biological ageing and functional ability of the elderly. However, the proper amount of PA that is necessary to induce positive alterations on the impaired reaction time of elderly people, is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two different types of training on choice reaction time (CRT) on healthy elderly persons METHODS: Forty seven subjects aged 60 −83 were submitted to 8 months PA program. They were divided according to the program in which they were involved (2 times per week, 45 min. each): group ST- Strength Training (n= 22; mean age= 70.4± 4.4yr.; meanheight=1.60± 0.1 m; mean weight= 65.5± 2.6 kg); group MT-Multicomponent Training (n= 25; mean age= 69.7± 6.0 yr.; mean height=1.55± 0.1 m; mean weight= 64.4± 1.6 kg). Participants were also subdivided at baseline in function of age (GR1- 60–69 yr and GR2 – >70 yr). The Multiple and Complex Reaction Time Test (Vienna Determination Unit – version 6) was used at the beginning (M0) of the study and repeated after periods of 4 (M4) and 8 months (M8) pós-training. Subsequent to an initial exploratory analysis, comparison between two different types of training and age groups was performed by an unpaired student's t-test. The analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANO VA) and Friedman's test were performed to compare results among the different moments. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: The results showed: (i) significant improvements on CRT regardless the type of training (ST – 1.47± 0.2 (M0) vs 1.31± 0.2 (M4) vs 1.25± 0.1 sec (M8); MT −1.49± 0.3 (M0) vs 1.31± 0.2 (M4) vs 1.22± 0.1 sec (M8), p<0.05); (ii) the improvements were associated with faster reactions as well as with an increase in correct reactions (ST – 203.5± 26.9 (M0) vs 228.1± 29.4 (M4) vs 239.7± 28.9 (M8); MT – 203.9± 38.5 (M0) vs 231.9± 33.2 (M4) vs 247.7± 31.3 (M8), p<0.05) and identical incorrect reactions (ST – 9.8± 7.4 (M0) vs 10.3± 9.6 (M4) vs 8.3± 5.5 (M8); MT – 12.5± 10.2 (M0) vs 12.6± 9.8 (M4); 10.5± 8.3 (M8), P>0.05), (iii) older individuals were slower than the younger ones (1.57± 0.2 vs 1.41± 0.2 sec., p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The overall findings suggest that aging negatively affect CRT but physical activity programs can act as an important non-pharmacological tool that can enhance psychomotor speed in elderly and thus improve their quality of life.