THE EFFECTS OF A THREE-MONTH EXERCISE PROGRAMME ON NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION IN ELDERLY INSTITUTIONALIZED WOMEN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

• Published in: Age and ageing Vol. 17; no. 5; pp. 303 - 310
• Main Authors: MOLLOY, D. W., McLaughlin, J. Samuel, RICHARDSON, L. DELAQUERRIERE, CRILLY, R. G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 1988
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cognition - physiology; Exercise; Female; Humans; Institutionalization; Memory - physiology; Mental Processes - physiology; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Random Allocation
• ISSN: 0002-0729; 1468-2834
• DOI: 10.1093/ageing/17.5.303

This randomized controlled trial examined the effect of a 3-month exercise programme on neuropsychological function in a population of very elderly institutionalized women. Baseline neuropsychological testing was performed, and following 3 months of exercise or control intervention, subjects were retested 3ndash;7 days after the completion of the study period. Apart from the Word Fluency Test, there was no significant improvement in any of the neuropsychological test scores. This study may not have shown any significant improvement in neuropsychological function because our exercise programme was too light to improve aerobic fitness, or because neuropsychological tests were repeated 3–7 days after exercise was completed and any acute effects of exercise may have disappeared by that time.