Vizzi Laura, Padua Elvira, D'Amico Agata Grazia, Tancredi Virginia, D'Arcangelo Giovanna, Cariati Ida, Scimeca Manuel, Maugeri Grazia, D'Agata Velia, Montorsi Michela
Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, 00166 Rome, Italy.
Department of Drug Science, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy.
J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2020 Dec 16;5(4):94. doi: 10.3390/jfmk5040094.
Studies on the effectiveness of physical exercise to treat and/or prevent mental disorders are essential and particularly appropriate, given the rapid growth of the elderly population and the consequent increase in the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases. The onset of neurodegenerative diseases is subtle, and progression is irreversible, as there is still no cure capable of stopping them permanently. Therefore, we should not underestimate these diseases and should immediately begin to combine the treatment with physical activity adapted to specific needs. Indeed, it is well known that physical activity has positive effects on mobility, autonomy, and functional capacity, improving not only cognitive functions, but also reducing the risk of developing dementia. Despite several studies in this field, to date there are no specific and effective protocols that promote physical exercise in people with dementia. Based on this evidence, the aim of the present work was to verify whether an adapted physical exercise regimen could promote the maintenance of psychomotor functions in elderly subjects and, therefore, delay the irreversible effects of combinations of dementia and other pathologies associated with aging. Our results clearly show that exercise is very effective in improving psychomotor functions and delaying the progress of neurodegenerative diseases in humans, since we observed that the subjects maintained their cognitive skills after 8 months of physical activity, moreover, two patients presented an amelioration. Based on the results obtained, we recommend that the motor practice, in any chosen form, be considered an integral part of prevention programs based on an active lifestyle in older people. Future studies will be necessary to establish how long lasting the benefits of a specific physical activity are and whether they are enough to delay cognitive decline.
鉴于老年人口的快速增长以及神经退行性疾病患病率的相应增加，关于体育锻炼治疗和/或预防精神障碍有效性的研究至关重要且尤为恰当。神经退行性疾病的发病较为隐匿，且进展不可逆，因为目前仍没有能够永久阻止其发展的治愈方法。因此，我们不应低估这些疾病，应立即开始将治疗与适应特定需求的体育活动相结合。事实上，众所周知，体育活动对 mobility、自主性和功能能力有积极影响，不仅能改善认知功能，还能降低患痴呆症的风险。尽管该领域已有多项研究，但迄今为止，尚无促进痴呆症患者体育锻炼的具体有效方案。基于这一证据，本研究的目的是验证一种适应性体育锻炼方案是否能促进老年受试者心理运动功能的维持，从而延缓痴呆症与其他衰老相关病症组合的不可逆影响。我们的结果清楚地表明，运动在改善人类心理运动功能和延缓神经退行性疾病进展方面非常有效，因为我们观察到，经过8个月的体育活动后，受试者保持了他们的认知技能，此外，两名患者病情有所改善。基于所获得的结果，我们建议，任何形式的运动实践都应被视为基于老年人积极生活方式的预防计划的一个组成部分。未来有必要开展研究，以确定特定体育活动的益处能持续多久，以及它们是否足以延缓认知衰退。
