Physical activity related to the optimal development of cognitive functions in the elderly

Abstract

Introduction: Physical activity is closely related to cognitive functions; its practice allows us to face several diseases that are linked to age. What's more, it preserves the lifestyle of the elderly people.

Objective: To establish the effectiveness of regular physical activity to improve the optimal development from cognitive functions in the elderly people.

Materials and Method: A cross-sectional quasi-experimental investigation was carried out, which involved 20 elderly participants, men and women with cognitive impairment, who signed the informed consent, it passing through the bioethics committee. An initial and final assessment was carried out through the Mini-mental test in order to assess the cognitive state from elderly people. Furthermore, a routine of physical exercises adapted from population was applied during 12 sessions of 45 minutes each one, to demonstrate the effects that cognitive functions have.

The results analysis was carried out through descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: In the evaluations carried out at the beginning of the research through the Mini-mental test it was identified that 100% from participants demonstrated mild cognitive impairment (12-23). However, after the intervention carried out with an exercise routine physical, it was evidenced that 85% presented mild cognitive impairment, 10% presented pathological suspicion (24-26) and 5% normality (27-30). To verify the hypothesis, a level of reliability of 95% was developed, it being significant, because of P <0.05, P = 0.00

Conclusions: Physical activity offers great benefits in the optimal development of cognitive functions from elderly people.