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Advances in Ageing Care: Spotlight on the Role of Physical...
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Advances in Ageing Care: Spotlight on the Role of Physical Activity

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 2400

Editors

Dr. Duarte Henriques-Neto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, Maia University, 4475-690 Maia, Portugal
Interests: physical fitness; ageing; bone health; sarcopenia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alex Barreto de Lima

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Physical Education Course, State University of Amazonas, Manaus 69065-001, Brazil
Interests: ageing; sarcopenia; falls; frailty; fatigability; functional fitness

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last decade, the number of people who are reaching 60 years old or more has been growing. Following this trend, the number of elderly people in 2050 is expected to be around 2.1 billion according to World Health Organization. Both the elderly population is increasing, as is life expectancy, while functionality and autonomy are decreasing.

Ageing is not synonymous with a decline in health and economic and social overload for health systems. Physical activity and physical exercise are determinants of public health, especially in the elderly population. Regular physical activity practice and good physical fitness levels are associated with body weight control, better cardiovascular health and maintaining muscle mass and bone density, as well as preventing the risk of falls and chronic diseases such as sarcopenia, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis.

The development of physical activity/exercise programmes for the elderly must consider individual limitations and pre-existing health conditions. Initial physical assessments are essential to personalise exercise programmes and ensure safety. There is a need to understand multifactorial aspects, which influence the biomechanics and physiologic mechanisms, in order to precisely prescribe the correct physical activity/exercise.

We invite you to contribute scientific studies such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, and community and/or clinical intervention studies aimed at promoting healthy ageing through physical activity/physical exercise and physical fitness in order to provide health professionals with evidence-based knowledge.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Duarte Henriques-Neto
Dr. Alex Barreto de Lima
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical activity
  • physical exercise
  • physical fitness
  • ageing

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 692 KB  
Article
Physical Activity Modifies the Association Between Atherogenic Index of Plasma and New-Onset Diabetes in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
by Yuhong Song, Jinyan Lan, Yu Ke and Lixu Tang
Healthcare 2026, 14(11), 1529; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14111529 - 1 Jun 2026
Viewed by 410
Abstract
Background: While existing research has examined the association between the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and the incidence of new-onset diabetes, there is a paucity of evidence concerning the influence of physical activity (PA) on this relationship. This study aims to elucidate the [...] Read more.
Background: While existing research has examined the association between the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and the incidence of new-onset diabetes, there is a paucity of evidence concerning the influence of physical activity (PA) on this relationship. This study aims to elucidate the intricate relationships among AIP, PA, and new-onset diabetes in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: Data from the 2011–2020 CHARLS cohort were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) assessed the association between AIP and diabetes risk. Effect modification by physical activity was examined via interaction terms and subgroup analyses, with sensitivity analyses excluding participants with dyslipidemia. Results: During follow-up, 717 participants developed diabetes. Each one-standard-deviation increase in AIP was associated with a significantly increased risk of diabetes (odds ratio (OR) = 2.266, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.807–2.843), with a linear dose–response relationship. A significant interaction was observed between AIP and physical activity. The association between AIP and diabetes was robust among non-exercisers (OR = 2.735, 95% CI: 2.087–3.582), but was markedly attenuated and non-significant among regular exercisers (OR = 1.471, 95% CI: 0.962–2.247). Sensitivity analysis yielded consistent results (OR = 2.259, 95% CI: 1.776–2.873). Conclusions: AIP is independently associated with an increased risk of new-onset diabetes in Chinese adults aged ≥45 years. Subgroup analyses indicated that physical activity significantly modified this association. The association was robust among non-exercisers but was markedly attenuated and became non-significant among regular exercisers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ageing Care: Spotlight on the Role of Physical Activity)
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14 pages, 277 KB  
Article
Functional Fitness of Low-Income Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Amazonian Brazilian
by Alex Barreto de Lima, Myrian Abecassis Faber, Miguel Peralta, Helena Vila-Suárez and Duarte Henriques-Neto
Healthcare 2025, 13(20), 2575; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13202575 - 14 Oct 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1041
Abstract
Background: The functional capacity of older adults is a critical determinant of autonomy and quality of life, particularly in low-income populations from remote regions with limited access to health services. This study aimed to characterize the functional fitness (FF) of community-dwelling older adults [...] Read more.
Background: The functional capacity of older adults is a critical determinant of autonomy and quality of life, particularly in low-income populations from remote regions with limited access to health services. This study aimed to characterize the functional fitness (FF) of community-dwelling older adults in the interior of Amazonas, Brazil, stratified by sex and age group. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 807 older adults (471 females), aged ≥ 60 years, from four municipalities in northern Brazil. The FF was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT), including measures of strength (30-s Chair Stand Test—CST; 30-s Arm Curl Test—ACT), flexibility (Chair Sit and Reach Test-CSAR, Back Scratch Test-BST), balance/agility (8-Foot Up-and-Go Test—FUG), and aerobic endurance (6-min walk test—6MWT). Descriptive statistics, confidence intervals, and age- and sex-specific percentiles were calculated. Results: Results indicated a progressive decline in FF with advancing age. Males outperformed females in strength and endurance tests, whereas females exhibited better flexibility. Notable reductions in performance were observed after age 75, particularly in CST, ACT, FUG, and 6MWT. Overall, the functional profiles of this population were below international norms, especially among females and individuals aged ≥ 80. The prevalence of overweight was 39.3%, with socioeconomic vulnerability affecting over 90% of participants. Conclusions: Older adults in low-income, remote Amazonian Brazilian communities demonstrate marked functional decline with ageing, influenced by socioeconomic and environmental constraints. These findings highlight the urgency of implementing accessible, community-based interventions focused on physical activity, strength, mobility, and endurance to support healthy ageing in underserved regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ageing Care: Spotlight on the Role of Physical Activity)
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