The Effect of a Single Session of Balance and Coordination Training on Cognitive Function in Older Adults
The cognitive decline that is characteristic of older adults has led researchers to seek methods for improving cognitive functions in this population in the short and long term. One broadly studied aspect relates to physical activity interventions and their impact on cognitive functions in older adu...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/6/3598 |
| _version_ | 1797613677406322688 |
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| author | Ayelet Dunsky Liat Unger Refael Carasso Orly Fox |
| author_facet | Ayelet Dunsky Liat Unger Refael Carasso Orly Fox |
| author_sort | Ayelet Dunsky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The cognitive decline that is characteristic of older adults has led researchers to seek methods for improving cognitive functions in this population in the short and long term. One broadly studied aspect relates to physical activity interventions and their impact on cognitive functions in older adults. This study examines the effect of a single session of balance and coordination exercises on the cognitive functions in older adults compared to that of a single session of aerobic exercises or a single control session of reading. The study included 30 physically active participants (23 females), with an average age of 73 (±5) years. The participants completed computerized cognitive tests to assess attention and executive functions in five separate sessions: two without interventions and three with interventions (aerobic exercise; balance and coordination and reading while sitting). The interval between each session was at least two weeks. The order of interventions between participants was random. While no differences were seen between the three types of intervention in executive function scores, our findings indicate that a single session of aerobic exercises and a single session of balance and coordination exercises led to higher scores on the attention test than in the control condition. This suggests that older adults may benefit from a single 30-min session of aerobic exercises or balance and coordination exercises prior to performing attention-demanding tasks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:58:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1385d5243e5b497698f8d9683763a9cb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:58:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-1385d5243e5b497698f8d9683763a9cb2023-11-17T09:24:03ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-03-01136359810.3390/app13063598The Effect of a Single Session of Balance and Coordination Training on Cognitive Function in Older AdultsAyelet Dunsky0Liat Unger1Refael Carasso2Orly Fox3The Levinsky-Wingate Academic College, School of Human Movement and Sport, Wingate Campus, Netanya 4290200, IsraelThe Levinsky-Wingate Academic College, School of Human Movement and Sport, Wingate Campus, Netanya 4290200, IsraelNeurology Department, The Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera 3846200, IsraelThe Levinsky-Wingate Academic College, School of Human Movement and Sport, Wingate Campus, Netanya 4290200, IsraelThe cognitive decline that is characteristic of older adults has led researchers to seek methods for improving cognitive functions in this population in the short and long term. One broadly studied aspect relates to physical activity interventions and their impact on cognitive functions in older adults. This study examines the effect of a single session of balance and coordination exercises on the cognitive functions in older adults compared to that of a single session of aerobic exercises or a single control session of reading. The study included 30 physically active participants (23 females), with an average age of 73 (±5) years. The participants completed computerized cognitive tests to assess attention and executive functions in five separate sessions: two without interventions and three with interventions (aerobic exercise; balance and coordination and reading while sitting). The interval between each session was at least two weeks. The order of interventions between participants was random. While no differences were seen between the three types of intervention in executive function scores, our findings indicate that a single session of aerobic exercises and a single session of balance and coordination exercises led to higher scores on the attention test than in the control condition. This suggests that older adults may benefit from a single 30-min session of aerobic exercises or balance and coordination exercises prior to performing attention-demanding tasks.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/6/3598balance and coordinationattentionolder adults |
| spellingShingle | Ayelet Dunsky Liat Unger Refael Carasso Orly Fox The Effect of a Single Session of Balance and Coordination Training on Cognitive Function in Older Adults Applied Sciences balance and coordination attention older adults |
| title | The Effect of a Single Session of Balance and Coordination Training on Cognitive Function in Older Adults |
| title_full | The Effect of a Single Session of Balance and Coordination Training on Cognitive Function in Older Adults |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of a Single Session of Balance and Coordination Training on Cognitive Function in Older Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of a Single Session of Balance and Coordination Training on Cognitive Function in Older Adults |
| title_short | The Effect of a Single Session of Balance and Coordination Training on Cognitive Function in Older Adults |
| title_sort | effect of a single session of balance and coordination training on cognitive function in older adults |
| topic | balance and coordination attention older adults |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/6/3598 |
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