Physical activity and cognitive aging

We have developed and tested physical activity programs tailored to sedentary and frail older adults. We have shown for the first time (Langlois et al., 2013) equivalent benefits of 3 months of exercise training in frail and non-frail age-matched controls on cognitive and psychological outcomes. This complements our work on the effect of multiple types of physical exercise training on cognition in the elderly (Berryman et al., 2014; Predovan et al., 2013), as well as the benefits of multi-domain interventions combining exercise and cognitive training (Bherer et al., 2020, Desjardins-Crépeau et al., 2016). Contribution in this field is summarized in a review (Pothier & Bherer, 2016).  More recently, our team showed that physical exercise gains can vary between younger-old and older-old adults (Bherer et al., 2019).

 

  1. Berryman N., Bherer, L., Nadeau, S., Lauzière, S., Lehr, L., Bobeuf, F., Lussier, M., Kergoat MJ, Vu TTM, Bosquet L. (2014). Multiple roads lead to Rome: combined high intensity aerobic and strength training vs. gross motor activities leads to equivalent improvement in executive functions in a cohort of healthy older adults. Age – American Aging Association. Doi:10.1007/s11357-014-9710-8
  2. Langlois, F., Vu, T.T.M., Chassé, K., Dupuis, G., Kergoat, M.J. & Bherer, L., (2013) Benefits of Physical Exercise Training on Cognition and Quality of Life in Frail Older Adults. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. Epub 2012 Apr 28. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbs069
  3. Bherer, L., Langeard, A., Kaushal, N., Vrinceanu, T., Desjardins-Crépeau, L., Langlois, F., Kramer, A.F (2019). Physical exercise training effect and mediation through cardiorespiratory fitness on dual-task performances differ in younger-old and older-old adults. J. Gerontol B Psych Sci Soc Sci. 2019 May 23.
  4. Bherer L, Gagnon C, Langeard A, Lussier M, Desjardins-Crépeau L, Berryman N, Bosquet L, Vu TTM, Fraser S, Li KZH, Kramer AF. (2020) Synergistic effects of cognitive training and physical exercise on dual-task performance in older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2020