Lifestyle components of the global oldest old assessed as effective nonpharmacologic strategies to maintain lifelong cognitive and functional health
Longevity and high quality of life are amongst the most desired traits of humanity. However, the incidences of non-communicable diseases are rising, while sedentary lifestyles and malnutrition are more common than ever, and in general both functional and cognitive health is declining. Besides the co...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education
2019-06-01
|
| Series: | Exercise and Quality of Life |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.eqoljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Meulenberg-2019.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818530107199848448 |
|---|---|
| author | Cécil J.W. Meulenberg |
| author_facet | Cécil J.W. Meulenberg |
| author_sort | Cécil J.W. Meulenberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Longevity and high quality of life are amongst the most desired traits of humanity. However, the incidences of non-communicable diseases are rising, while sedentary lifestyles and malnutrition are more common than ever, and in general both functional and cognitive health is declining. Besides the concurrent costs to provide healthcare for such an aging population are dramatically increasing and depend on pharmacological treatment. There is an urgent need to raise awareness for cost-saving healthier customs and to adjust lifestyles. From specific geographic areas around the globe, where its citizens tend to grow (very) old, that is over 100 years of age (indicated as ‘oldest old’), without the obvious health-deficits, the so-called blue zones, lifestyle factors have been identified, or will be proposed, and taken as candidate for nonpharmacologic approaches to improve general health. This paper will summarize scientific studies focussing on cardiovascular and cognitive health benefits induced by: Physical activity through exercise, light to moderate intensity, and nonexercise outdoors activities; Nutrition through the Mediterranean diet and the incidence of neurodegeneration; Cognitive engagement through cognitive-motor exercises, language usage, and meditation; and finally: Sleep. The identified denominators are reviewed through various scientific studies regarding substantiated healthinducing effects. Adherence to such nonpharmacologic lifestyles is eventually a personal choice, and for governments to take notice of, and to include in policies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:15:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8cc0d089628e44379a25e931d6f9e35b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1821-3480 2406-1379 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:15:33Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Exercise and Quality of Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-8cc0d089628e44379a25e931d6f9e35b2022-12-22T00:57:21ZengUniversity of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sport and Physical EducationExercise and Quality of Life1821-34802406-13792019-06-01111375010.31382/eqol.190605Lifestyle components of the global oldest old assessed as effective nonpharmacologic strategies to maintain lifelong cognitive and functional healthCécil J.W. Meulenberg0Science and Research Centre Koper, Institute for Kinesiology Research, Koper, SloveniaLongevity and high quality of life are amongst the most desired traits of humanity. However, the incidences of non-communicable diseases are rising, while sedentary lifestyles and malnutrition are more common than ever, and in general both functional and cognitive health is declining. Besides the concurrent costs to provide healthcare for such an aging population are dramatically increasing and depend on pharmacological treatment. There is an urgent need to raise awareness for cost-saving healthier customs and to adjust lifestyles. From specific geographic areas around the globe, where its citizens tend to grow (very) old, that is over 100 years of age (indicated as ‘oldest old’), without the obvious health-deficits, the so-called blue zones, lifestyle factors have been identified, or will be proposed, and taken as candidate for nonpharmacologic approaches to improve general health. This paper will summarize scientific studies focussing on cardiovascular and cognitive health benefits induced by: Physical activity through exercise, light to moderate intensity, and nonexercise outdoors activities; Nutrition through the Mediterranean diet and the incidence of neurodegeneration; Cognitive engagement through cognitive-motor exercises, language usage, and meditation; and finally: Sleep. The identified denominators are reviewed through various scientific studies regarding substantiated healthinducing effects. Adherence to such nonpharmacologic lifestyles is eventually a personal choice, and for governments to take notice of, and to include in policies.http://www.eqoljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Meulenberg-2019.pdfbilingualismcognitiondementiasleepvitamin Dyoga |
| spellingShingle | Cécil J.W. Meulenberg Lifestyle components of the global oldest old assessed as effective nonpharmacologic strategies to maintain lifelong cognitive and functional health Exercise and Quality of Life bilingualism cognition dementia sleep vitamin D yoga |
| title | Lifestyle components of the global oldest old assessed as effective nonpharmacologic strategies to maintain lifelong cognitive and functional health |
| title_full | Lifestyle components of the global oldest old assessed as effective nonpharmacologic strategies to maintain lifelong cognitive and functional health |
| title_fullStr | Lifestyle components of the global oldest old assessed as effective nonpharmacologic strategies to maintain lifelong cognitive and functional health |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lifestyle components of the global oldest old assessed as effective nonpharmacologic strategies to maintain lifelong cognitive and functional health |
| title_short | Lifestyle components of the global oldest old assessed as effective nonpharmacologic strategies to maintain lifelong cognitive and functional health |
| title_sort | lifestyle components of the global oldest old assessed as effective nonpharmacologic strategies to maintain lifelong cognitive and functional health |
| topic | bilingualism cognition dementia sleep vitamin D yoga |
| url | http://www.eqoljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Meulenberg-2019.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ceciljwmeulenberg lifestylecomponentsoftheglobaloldestoldassessedaseffectivenonpharmacologicstrategiestomaintainlifelongcognitiveandfunctionalhealth |