ABSTRACT

Previous studies have shown cognitive benefits for healthy older adults who engage in aerobic exercise training (AET) or artistic activities such as theater training (TT). However, these two activities have not been compare on their cognitive effects. So, this study compares the cognitive functioning of healthy older adults engaging in AET by playing Newcomb ball (volleyball-based game) versus those who participated in TT. Participants were 20 healthy older adults (10 women), 60–78 years of age, with an average education of 10.8 years and practitioners of AET or TT. The composition of the groups was controlled with respect to age, sex, schooling, and periodicity and time of practice of each activity. Neuropsychological functions of planning, working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibition, and learning were evaluated. A high normal neuropsychological performance was observed in the AET group in the majority of the normalized scores for almost all the cognitive areas studied, whereas the TT group showed high average performance only in inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Although the results indicate that AET is a better option than TT as a protective factor against the cognitive decline that comes along with aging, TT cannot be ruled out as an option for elderly with physical limitations.

摘要

先前的研究表明，参加有氧运动训练 (AET) 或戏剧训练 (TT) 等艺术活动的健康老年人的认知益处。然而，这两种活动的认知效果尚未进行比较。因此，这项研究比较了通过玩纽科姆球（基于排球的游戏）参与 AET 的健康老年人与参加 TT 的人的认知功能。参与者是 20 名健康的老年人（10 名女性），年龄在 60-78 岁之间，平均受教育年限为 10.8 年，并且是 AET 或 TT 的从业者。各组的组成在年龄、性别、教育程度以及每项活动的练习周期和时间方面受到控制。评估了计划、工作记忆、认知灵活性、抑制和学习的神经心理功能。在几乎所有所研究的认知领域的大多数标准化评分中，AET 组的正常神经心理表现均较高，而 TT 组仅在抑制和认知灵活性方面表现出较高的平均表现。虽然结果表明 AET 是比 TT 更好的选择，可以作为对抗衰老带来的认知衰退的保护因素，但不能排除 TT 作为身体受限老年人的选择。