Table 1.
Studies chosen for review.
| Publication | Endpoint | Subjects | Intervention | Results on cognition | Results biomarkers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akishita et al. (15) | Cognitive markers ADL MMSE Blood markers: Estradiol Testosterone DHEA DHEA sulfate Sex hormone-binding globulin |
13 ♀ ADa Nursing home residents Mean age: 84.5 ± 5 Mean MMSE: 13.9 ± 1.9 |
N = 13, resistance training (light) + stretching 30 min 2/weekc + 5/weekb × 12 weeks | No change in MMSE No change in ADL |
↑ Testosterone ↑ Estradiol ↑ DHEA |
| Baker et al. (34) | Cognitive markers: Symbol-digit modalities Verbal fluency Trail B STROOP Task switching Story recall List-learning Blood markers: Insulin IGF-1 Cortisol BDNF Platelet factor 4 Aβ42 Cholesterol Cardio markers: VO2 peak |
29 MCIa Home living Mean age Stretching 66 ± 6.0 Intervention 71 ± 7.5 Mean MMSE Stretching 28.8 ± 1.0 Intervention 28.6 ± 1.2 |
n = 10, stretching (<50% HRR) 45–60 min 4/week × 26 weeksc n = 19, aerobic exercise (75–85% HRR) 45–60 min 4/week × 26 weeksc |
♀ Increased executive function Increased performance in STROOP Both Increased performance in trail B |
Gender difference ♀ ↑ Insulin sensitivity ↑ Insulin ↑ Cortisol in control group ↑ BDNF ♂ ↓ Cortisol in controls group ↓ BDNF ↑ IGF-1 Both ↓ Body fat ↓ Total Cholesterol ↑ VO2 peak |
| Cheng et al. (35) | Cognitive markers: MMSE Call-recall Categorical fluency Digit span Blood markers: Cholesterol HDL Tri-glycerides Glucose Genetic markers: ApoE genotype |
110 dementiaa Nursing home residents Mean age Control 80.8 ± 7.2 Mahjong 81.9 ± 6.2 Tai Chi 81.8 ± 7.4 Mean MMSE Control 18.8 ± 4.1 Mahjong 19.0 ± 3.2 Tai Chi 18.7 ± 3.9 |
n = 39, aerobic exercise (Tai Chi) 60 min 3/week × 12 weeksb n = 36, cognitive activity (Mahjong) 60 min 3/week × 12 weeksb |
Tai Chi Slower decline in cognitive measures Mahjong Slower decline in cognitive measures |
Non-reported |
| Coelho et al. (36) | Blood markers: BDNF |
21 ADa 18 cognitive normal (used as controls) Home living Mean age AD 76.3 ± 6.2 Controls 74.5 ± 4.7 Mean MMSE AD 21.0 ± 3.9 Controls 28.0 ± 2.5 |
n = 39, acute aerobic exercise (85% HRR) 17–22 min oncec | None studied | Both: ↑ BDNF |
| Eggermont et al. (37) | Cognitive markers MMSE Face recognition Picture recognition Delayed word call Digit span backwards Category fluency Letter fluency Genetic markers ApoE |
97 dementiaa Nursing home residents Mean age: 85.4 Mean MMSE: 17.7 |
n = 51, walking 30 min 5/week × 6 weeksb | No significant results reported | No significant results reported |
| Mancuso et al. (38) | Blood markers: COX Lactate |
18 ADa 20 cognitive normal No mention of living status Mean age AD 66.4 ± 8.9 Controls 63.4 ± 9.1 Mean MMSE AD 17.4 ± 4.9 Controls, not reported |
n = 38, acute resistance training (increment 10–70% 1RM) onceb | Not studied | ↑ Lactate ↓ Lactate recovery after exercise ↓ COX activity |
| Nascimento et al. (39, 41) | Cognitive markers: MoCA Blood markers BDNF TNF-α IL-6 |
37 MCIa 30 cognitive normal Home living Mean age MCI used as controls 68.5 ± 5.9 MCI exercise 67.3 ± 5.3 Cognitive normal used as controls 68.1 ± 5.7 Cognitive normal exercise 66.6 ± 7.9 Median MoCA MCI used as controls 21 MCI exercise 20 Cognitive normal used as controls 27 Cognitive normal exercise 27 |
n = 35 (20 MCI, 15), aerobic exercise (60–80% HRR) 60 min 3/week × 16 weeksc | MCI: increased cognition | Both ↓ TNF ↓ IL |
| Segal et al. (41) | Cognitive marker: IAPS Saliva markers: alpha-amylase |
23 aMCIa 31 cognitive normal No mentioning of home status Mean age aMCI 71.4 ± 2.4 Cognitive normal 69 ± 2 Mean MMSE aMCI, not reported Cognitive normal, not reported |
n = 26 (11a MCI, 15 controls) acute aerobic exercise (70% VO2max) 6 min onceb | Both: increased picture recall | Both: ↑ saliva alpha-amylase |
ADL, activities of daily living; DHEA, dehydroepiadrosterone; AD, Alzheimer’s disease; aMCI, amnestic mild cognitive impairment; MCI, mild cognitive impairment; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor 1; BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Aβ40+42, beta-amyloid isoform 40 and 42; VO2 peak, peak oxygen uptake; HRR, heart rate reserve; ♀, women; ♂, men; MMSE, mini-mental state examination; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; COX, cytochrome c oxidase; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment; TNF-a, tumor necrosis factor alpha; IL-6, interleukin-6; IPAS; International Affective Picture Set.
aDiagnosed according to international guidelines.
bSupervised by caregiver, healthcare worker, or not mentioned.
cSupervised by trainer or physiotherapist.