Abstract

Physical activity has an unquestionable impact on broadly understood human health. One interesting issue related to this is the importance of movement on mental health and cognitive functioning. Research shows that regular physical activity improves the cognitive functioning of adults and people with mental disorders. Regular physical activity can be an important and powerful protective factor in cognitive impairment and dementia in the elderly, and exercise is an important non-pharmacological treatment for mild cognitive impairment or neurodegenerative diseases. This study aims to present the impact of physical activity on selected cognitive functions in physically active women over 60 years of age. The research was carried out in a group of 110 generally healthy women from the area of western Poland over 60 years of age, who were divided into four groups based on the intensity of their physical activity. A pedometer (sport watch) and a physical activity diary were used to measure physical activity. Body Mass Index was assessed. Selected cognitive functions were assessed using the MMSE test, motor and psychomotor skills were measured, and Luria’s auditory memory test and recall test, a clock drawing test, and a GDS test were performed. There were statistically significant relationships between the level of physical activity and the effectiveness of cognitive processes. These results show that about 5000 steps a day is enough to see a positive effect on the mental health and cognitive functioning of this group of the elderly population. The women had an average BMI of 28.1 ± 4.7. BMI, indicating an overweight condition (over 30 kg/m2), was observed in 31% of women. The results of this study lead the authors to conclude that physical activity positively influences cognitive function and can be recommended for all seniors who do not have other serious comorbidities that would prevent them from playing sports.

Highlights

  • Physical activity is essential in the prevention of many diseases, including chronic diseases

  • The women included in this analysis had a mean (SD) age of 67.3 (6.1) years, who were divided into four groups

  • Interesting conclusions were drawn by Jerstad et al from a study of 496 adolescent girls followed over a period of 6 years, in which they showed that physical activity significantly reduces the risk of future worsening of depression symptoms and the risk of severe and minor depression, and interventions that increase physical activity can reduce the risk of depression in a high-risk population

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Summary

Introduction

Physical activity is essential in the prevention of many diseases, including chronic diseases. Selected physical activity has a positive effect on quality of life and ensures well-being, while enabling the elderly to have better control and independence thanks to greater fitness and physical endurance [3]. It improves their emotional state, including a reduction in anxiety states and improvement in health during depression [4]. This positive effect occurs due to the fact that systematic exercise regulates

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