期刊名称：European Journal of Physical Education and Sport
印刷版ISSN：2310-0133
出版年度：2016
卷号：13
期号：3
页码：79-88
DOI：10.13187/ejpe.2016.13.79
出版社：Nauchnyi Izdatel'skii Dom Issledovatel',Academic Publishing House Researcher
摘要：Introduction: Decline of brain and mental functions with aging is a natural biological phenomenon. Scientists have engaged themselves to find out the different ways to protect degeneration and enhance brain functions. Regular exercise is one of the potential area. However, there are controversial and inconclusive results which create further interest of research. Aim: To review scientific literature related to exercise effect on brain and mental function during aging. Methods: Searches were conducted through electronic databases- PubMed, Medline, Springer link, Elsevier, and Google Scholar. The searching terms were: brain function (brain function or cognition or memory or processing speed or learning or executive function) and physical exercise (physical exercise or exercise or stretching exercise or strength exercise). Initial search were 11 review studies and 57 randomized control trials. The current study selected 03 review and 08 randomized control trials studies after fulfillment of its requirement. Findings: Long term (>24 weeks) combination exercise (aerobic, strength and stretching) training can improve memory functions and processing speed in elderly people. Aerobic exercise training and strength training together can contribute to the improvement of episodic memory, executive functions and processing speed in healthy elderly people. Memory can be enhanced through aerobic exercise training and also by doing strength exercise training in healthy older adults. Interpretations: Changes in different brain and mental functions may be occurred due to structural and functional variations. The structural changes may include change in the volume of hippocampus, neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and so on. The physiological variations can include brain plasticity, increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), enhancement of Default Mode Network (DMN), increase the activity of proteasome and neprilysin. Conclusions: Aging brain and mental functions may be enhanced through regular aerobic exercise training but different exercise has different impact on brain structure and functions.
