title: Effects of a physical fitness program on memory and blood viscosity in sedentary elderly men.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6-month exercise program on cognitive function and blood viscosity in sedentary elderly men. Forty-six healthy inactive men, aged 60-75 years were randomly distributed into a control group (n=23) and an experimental group (n=23). Participants underwent blood analysis and physical and memory evaluation, before and after the 6-month program of physical exercise. The control group was instructed not to alter its everyday activities; the experimental group took part in the fitness program. The program was conducted using a cycle ergometer, 3 times per week on alternate days, with intensity and volume individualized at ventilatory threshold 1. Sessions were continuous and maximum duration was 60 min each. There was significant improvement in memory (21%; P<0.05), decreased blood viscosity (-19%; P<0.05), and higher aerobic capacity (48%; P<0.05) among participants in the experimental group compared with the control group. These data suggest that taking part in an aerobic physical fitness program at an intensity corresponding to ventilatory threshold-1 may be considered a nonmedication alternative to improve physical and cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, BR.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: De Mello
authors.affiliation: Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Santos-Galduróz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: J C F
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Galduróz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: V Aquino
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tufik
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: O F A
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Bueno
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors