Cognitive health benefits of strengthening exercise for community-dwelling older adults

Abstract

While aerobic exercise has been linked to improved performance on cognitive tasks of executive functioning among older adults, not all older adults can avail themselves of such exercise due to physical limitations. In this study, community-dwelling older adults were evaluated on tasks of executive functioning before and after a month-long strengthening, nonaerobic exercise program. A total of 16 participants who engaged in such exercise showed significantly improved scores on Digits Backward and Stroop C tasks when compared to 16 participants who were on an exercise waiting list. Positive benefits of strengthening exercise on cognition are supported. Additional research is needed to clarify the generalizability of these findings.

Keywords:

• Exercise
• Neuropsychological
• Cognitive
• Older adult
• Strength

This research was funded in part by faculty and student research grants provided by Union College. The authors wish to thank community collaborators at Senior Health and Wellness Program of Catholic Charities Senior Services in Schenectady, the Retired Senior Volunteer Programs of the Capital District and Saratoga County, and Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Glens Falls Hospitals. A portion of these data and an earlier version of this report were presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine in San Diego, CA, in March, 2008.