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Potential Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Population: The Latest Updates

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Sport and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 23746

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Kenji Narazaki

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Leading Guest Editor

Center for Liberal Arts, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Fukuoka 811-0295, Japan
Interests: exercise and physical activity epidemiology, exercise physiology, and health benefits of physical activity in older population

Prof. Dr. Zsolt Radák

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Guest Editor

1. Research Institute of Sport Science, University of Physical Education, 1123 Budapest, Hungary
2. Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa 2-579-15, Japan
Interests: exercise; aging; epigenetics; hormesis; systemic adaptation; microbiome
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Prof. Dr. Mustafa Atalay

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Guest Editor

Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
Interests: regulation of redox control, inflammation, protein homeostasis and myokine responses to physical exercise in different age groups and clinical conditions

Dr. Haiyan Wang

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Guest Editor

Muscle Biology Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048, USA
Interests: sport science and health

Dr. Sanmei Chen

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Guest Editor

Department of Global Health Nursing, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-0046, Japan
Interests: sport science and health

Dr. Tao Chen

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Guest Editor

Department of Physical Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Interests: physical activity epidemiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the modern world, many countries are facing a rapid population aging which poses considerable challenges on the social, economic, and health systems. These challenges are probably fueled significantly by the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 in the next decade or so, as older people are alleged to be highly susceptible to this disease. Under such circumstances, in parallel to establishing definitive treatments against COVID-19, identifying modifiable factors that contribute to maintaining and further improving health and the quality of life of older population is of priority.

To date, regular physical activity has been reported to be a modifiable protective factor against a number of adverse heath events including chronic physical and mental diseases, age-related degenerative diseases such as frailty, sarcopenia, and dementia, and mortality. Many public health guidelines indeed recommend older people to sustain and even increase the amount of physical activity. However, in order to demonstrate clearer physical activity prescriptions for better and safer administration to the population, further findings from well-designed studies should be accumulated regarding “specifications” of physical activity, including effective type, domain, pattern, and dose (with respect to components such as intensity, duration, and frequency), for given health outcomes. There is also a great need for understanding mechanisms underlying potential health benefits of physical activity in more comprehensive manner for making the prescriptions convincing.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims to update the latest evidence for potential health benefits of physical activity in older population and calls for original articles, reviews, and brief communications particularly addressing the above-mentioned specifications of physical activity and/or mechanisms underlying its potential health benefits. Because of the broad nature of the topic, papers from multiple disciplines, such as epidemiological, biophysiological, psychological, and socioenvironmental studies, are expected to be submitted. In addition, despite of the present consensus that physical activity and sedentary behavior are two different factors not mutually exclusive, potential health benefits of reducing sedentary behavior are treated as relevant topics in this Special Issue. Accordingly, papers addressing favorable specifications of reductions in sedentary behavior and/or its underlying mechanisms may also be subject to peer reviews at the Editors' discretion.

Prof. Dr. Kenji Narazaki
Prof. Dr. Zsolt Radak
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Atalay
Dr. Haiyan Wang
Dr. Sanmei Chen
Dr. Tao Chen
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1002 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Aerobic Capacity and Adipokine Profile Together with Weight Loss Improve Glycemic Control without Changes in Skeletal Muscle GLUT-4 Gene Expression in Middle-Aged Subjects with Impaired Glucose Tolerance

by Mika Venojärvi, Jaana Lindström, Sirkka Aunola, Pirjo Nuutila and Mustafa Atalay

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8327; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148327 - 7 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2462

Abstract

(1) Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the role of adipokines in the regulation of glucose metabolism in middle-aged obese subjects with impaired glucose tolerance in response to a long-term exercise and dietary intervention. (2) Methods: Skeletal muscle, plasma and serum samples were examined in 22 subjects from an exercise–diet intervention study aiming to prevent type 2 diabetes. The subjects were further divided into two subgroups (non-responders n = 9 and responders n = 13) based on their achievement in losing at least 3 kg. (3) Results: The two-year exercise–diet intervention reduced leptin levels and increased adiponectin levels in responders; the changes in leptin levels were significantly associated with changes in their weights (r = 0.662, p < 0.01). In responders, insulin sensitivity (Bennett and McAuley index) increased and was associated with changes in maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂peak) (r = 0.831, p < 0.010 and r = 0.890, p < 0.01). In addition, the VO₂peak and oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle improved in responders, but not in non-responders. However, there were no changes between the two groups in expressions of the glucose transporter protein-4 (GLUT-4) gene or of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-α1 or AMPK-α2 proteins. (4) Conclusions: The exercise–diet intervention decreased serum leptin and increased serum adiponectin concentrations, improved glucose control without affecting GLUT-4 gene expression in the skeletal muscle in responders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Potential Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Population: The Latest Updates)

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11 pages, 1673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intermittent Exercise at Lactate Threshold Induces Lower Acute Stress than Its Continuous Counterpart in Middle-to-Older Aged Men

by Taiki Yamamoto, Yukiya Tanoue, Yoshinari Uehara, Yasuki Higaki, Hiroaki Tanaka and Kenji Narazaki

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 7503; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127503 - 19 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2297

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the degree of exhaustion and trophic effects between continuous exercise (CE) and intermittent exercise (IE) at lactate threshold (LT) intensity. Seven healthy men (age: 43–69 years) performed the following three experimental tests in a randomized crossover order: (1) control; (2) CE, performed as a 20-min of cycling at LT intensity; and (3) IE, performed as 20 sets of a one-min bout of cycling at LT intensity with a 30-s rest between every two sets. Heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (LA), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), catecholamines, cortisol, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured. The sampling timing in each test was as follows: 10 min before the onset of exercise, at the 25%, 50%, and 100% time points of exercise, and at 10 min after exercise. IE was found to be accompanied by a lower degree of exhaustion than CE in measures of HR, LA, RPE, catecholamines, and cortisol. In terms of trophic effects, both of IGF-1 and BDNF increased in CE, while a marginal increase of BDNF was observed in IE. The results indicated that IE induces lower stress than CE, but may not be effective for inducing trophic effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Potential Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Population: The Latest Updates)

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13 pages, 1225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feasibility of the Remote Physical Activity Follow-Up Intervention after the Face-to-Face Program for Healthy Middle-Aged Adults: A Randomized Trial Using ICT and Mobile Technology

by Koji Yamatsu and Kenji Narazaki

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(8), 4922; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084922 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2490

Abstract

Although the effectiveness of face-to-face and remote intervention for increasing and maintaining physical activity (PA) have been compared, the effect of combining the two forms of intervention is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of the remote PA follow-up intervention after the face-to-face PA program on changing PA behaviors and some health outcomes in healthy middle-aged adults. As a secondary analysis, we also attempted a preliminary analysis of the difference in the number of behavior change interviews in the remote PA follow-up intervention. After the face-to-face intervention, 30 healthy subjects were randomly divided into four behavior change coaching interviews (BCI4 group) or three BCI (BCI3 group). The results of this study showed that body weight, body fat mass, and waist circumference were significantly reduced after face-to-face intervention, and were further reduced after remote PA follow-up intervention. However, the difference in the number of BCI affected only body fat mass. The remote PA follow-up intervention may have potential to maintain the effects of face-to-face intervention. In the future, it is necessary to refine the research design and conduct a full-scale intervention study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Potential Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Population: The Latest Updates)

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12 pages, 341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations of Objectively-Measured Sedentary Time and Patterns with Cognitive Function in Non-Demented Japanese Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Sanmei Chen, Tao Chen, Takanori Honda, Yu Nofuji, Hiro Kishimoto and Kenji Narazaki

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 1999; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19041999 - 11 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2244

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional associations of objectively-measured sedentary time and patterns with cognitive function in Japanese older adults. A total of 1681 non-demented community-dwelling older adults (aged 73 ± 6, 62.1% women) were included. Total sedentary time, prolonged sedentary time (accumulated in ≥30 min bouts) and mean sedentary bout length were assessed using a tri-axial accelerometer. Global and domain-specific cognitive functions were measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The average of total sedentary time and prolonged sedentary time were 462 ± 125 and 186 ± 111 min/day, respectively. Greater prolonged sedentary time, but not total sedentary time, was significantly associated with poorer performance in the orientation domain even after controlling for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p for trend = 0.002). A significant inverse association was also observed between mean sedentary bout length and the orientation domain (p for trend = 0.009). No significant associations were observed for global cognitive function or other cognitive domains. Sedentary time accumulated in prolonged bouts, but not total sedentary time, was inversely associated with orientation ability among older adults. Our results encourage further researches to confirm the role of prolonged sedentary time in changes to cognitive domains over time among older adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Potential Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Population: The Latest Updates)

11 pages, 321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Associations between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Physical Function in Community-Dwelling Older Japanese Men and Women

by Harukaze Yatsugi, Tao Chen, Si Chen, Xin Liu and Hiro Kishimoto

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010369 - 30 Dec 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2376

Abstract

Objective: The relationships between physical activity (PA) and physical function (PF) among older Japanese adults have been examined before, with some studies reporting that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is positively associated with PF. However, it is unclear whether the observed associations differ between men and women. In this study, we investigated the associations of objectively measured MVPA, light physical activity (LPA), and sedentary time (ST) with different PF levels in older Japanese men and women. Subjects and Methods: A total of 810 community-dwelling subjects aged 65–75 years were investigated (52.1% women, 47.9% men). The PF variables included grip strength, one-leg standing, usual and maximum walking speeds, and chair-standing time. PA (MVPA, LPA, and ST) and the number of steps taken daily were assessed for seven consecutive days by a tri-axial accelerometer. We determined the sex-specific quartiles of MVPA, LPA, and ST and analyzed their associations with physical function in separate models for each exposure measure. Results: In the crude analysis, MVPA was significantly associated with all PF variables in the men, and with the usual walking speed, max. walking speed, and chair-standing time in the women. Neither LPA nor ST was significantly associated with any PF variables. After adjusting potential confounding factors, significant associations between MVPA and usual walking speed remained in the men and women. Conclusions: Only greater moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was significantly associated with higher levels of PF variables in both men and women. Thus, time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) can help older adults maintain or improve their physical function. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Potential Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Population: The Latest Updates)

13 pages, 833 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pickleball for Inactive Mid-Life and Older Adults in Rural Utah: A Feasibility Study

by Paige Wray, Callahan K. Ward, Cindy Nelson, Sandra H. Sulzer, Christopher J. Dakin, Brennan J. Thompson, Matthew Vierimaa, Debasree Das Gupta and David A. E. Bolton

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(16), 8374; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168374 - 7 Aug 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6587

Abstract

Many diseases, disabilities, and mental health conditions associated with aging can be delayed or prevented through regular exercise. Several barriers to exercise, many of which are exacerbated in rural communities, prevent mid-life and older adults from accessing its benefits. However, recently, a racquet sport named pickleball has become popular among older adults, and it appears to overcome some of these barriers. We conducted a feasibility study to evaluate the impact of a six-week pickleball intervention on measures of muscle function, cognitive function, perceived pain, and cardio-metabolic risk, as well as several psychosocial factors contributing to adherence in sedentary rural participants. Participants improved their vertical jump, cognitive performance, and reported a decrease in self-reported pain, suggesting improved physical and cognitive health across the sample. Participants also reported high levels of satisfaction and demonstrated good adherence over the duration of the study. Perhaps of greatest value was the overwhelmingly positive response from participants to the intervention and follow-up interviews reporting a desire to continue pickleball play beyond the study period. Overall, pickleball appears to be a promising intervention to, (1) elicit functional- and cognitive-related improvements, and (2) motivate mid-life and older adults to adhere to exercise sufficiently long to benefit their health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Potential Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Population: The Latest Updates)

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Review

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19 pages, 446 KiB

Open AccessReview

Home-Based Physical Activity as a Healthy Aging Booster before and during COVID-19 Outbreak

by Marianna De Maio, Cecilia Bratta, Alice Iannaccone, Loriana Castellani, Carl Foster, Cristina Cortis and Andrea Fusco

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4317; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074317 - 4 Apr 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4117

Abstract

The role of physical activity in improving overall aspects of health regardless of age is well documented. Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak, preventive measures to limit airborne infection have been introduced, with people, especially older adults, advised to stay at home, thus increasing sedentary lifestyle and the risk of chronic diseases. As one of the few possible ways to stay active is home-based training, this review aims to provide evidence on alternative and feasible home-based activity programs as a tool to improve the fitness level in older adults, especially when preventive measures are needed to ensure isolation and limit interpersonal contacts. During quarantine, older adults, especially those with chronic diseases, are recommended to regularly exercise. Combined balance and muscle-strengthening training has proven to be particularly useful in limiting falls and mobility limitations. In addition, the use of virtual reality systems seems to be a potential strategy in remaining physically active, reducing physical inactivity time and significantly increasing the compliance of the older adults with physical activity programs. In conclusion, home-based programs induce improvements in physical functions in general and quality of life in older people with or without co-morbidities, and it can be considered in the future as one of the feasible and economic ways to increase physical well-being. This may be of unique importance in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 enforced limitations in out-of-home activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Potential Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Population: The Latest Updates)

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