title: [The influence of physical exercise in the prevention of cognitive deterioration in the elderly: a systematic review].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Spain, the number of elderly people is increasing, reason why the improvement in the attention given to the older adults has become a significant objective and requirement of health care systems. The physical activity is being recognized as a highly protective factor of the cognitive functions in aging, becoming a promising psycho-social strategy for the protection of the cognition in elderly population.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, PsycINFO, Psicodoc, Scopus y SciELO sources were searched. We analyze the influence of the physical exercise in the prevention of the cognitive functions in healthy elderly and in the improvement or maintenance of the cognitive decline in older adults with early cognitive impairment. Thirty-one studies were selected and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These studies indicated that a greater amount of physical activity is related with a decrease of cognitive decline in aging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physical activity constitutes a promising psychosocial strategy for older adults with and without cognitive impairment. More experimental studies and homogeneity in the assessment instruments are needed. A deeper study of the convenience in the frequency and intensity of the interventions is also required.
authors.affiliation: Fundacion INTRAS, Valladolid, España.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franco-Martín
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parra-Vidales
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: González-Palau
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernate-Navarro
authors.forename: Abdel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011581:Psychological Tests; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic