RE: Similarly exercise of body and mind are also
considered to improve cognitive processes. Are these
claims just popular beliefs? Is there any existing
research to support this?


Here is some information and research on "exercise of body" followed by "exercise of mind" and the positive effects on memory and cognitive processes:

Bixby WR, Spalding TW, Haufler AJ, Deeny SP, Mahlow PT, Zimmerman JB, Hatfield BD. The unique relation of physical activity to executive function in older men and women. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007 Aug;39(8):1408-16.

PURPOSE: To determine whether physical activity participation was specifically and positively associated with executive function in older individuals after accounting for age, education, and IQ. CONCLUSIONS: The results support specificity of the physical activity/cognition relationship in older individuals. The results may be explained by additive benefit from participation in physical activity to the frontal lobe (i.e., beyond any benefits from cognitive stimulation), a region that mediates executive function and experiences accelerated age-related decline. In summary, habitual physical activity is positively related to executive performance in older men and women into the 10th decade.



Yaffe K, Barnes D, Nevitt M, Lui LY, Covinsky K. A prospective study of physical activity and cognitive decline in elderly women: women who walk. Arch Intern Med. 2001 Jul 23;161(14):1703-8.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have suggested that physical activity is positively associated with cognitive function in elderly persons. Evidence about this association has been limited by the cross-sectional design of most studies and by the frequent lack of adjustment for potential confounding variables. We determined whether physical activity is associated with cognitive decline in a prospective study of older women. CONCLUSIONS: Women with higher levels of baseline physical activity were less likely to develop cognitive decline. This association was not explained by differences in baseline function or health status. This finding supports the hypothesis that physical activity prevents cognitive decline in older community-dwelling women.



Laurin D, Verreault R, Lindsay J, MacPherson K, Rockwood K. Physical activity and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in elderly persons. Arch Neurol. 2001 Mar;58(3):498-504.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between physical activity and the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. CONCLUSION: Regular physical activity could represent an important and potent protective factor for cognitive decline and dementia in elderly persons.



van Gelder BM, Tijhuis MA, Kalmijn S, Giampaoli S, Nissinen A, Kromhout D. Physical activity in relation to cognitive decline in elderly men: the FINE Study. Neurology. 2004 Dec 28;63(12):2316-21. 

BACKGROUND: Physical activity may be associated with better cognition. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether change in duration and intensity of physical activity is associated with 10-year cognitive decline in elderly men. CONCLUSIONS: Even in old age, participation in activities with at least a medium-low intensity may postpone cognitive decline. Moreover, a decrease in duration or intensity of physical activity results in a stronger cognitive decline than maintaining duration or intensity.



Sturman MT, Morris MC, Mendes de Leon CF, Bienias JL, Wilson RS, Evans DA. Physical activity, cognitive activity, and cognitive decline in a biracial community population. Arch Neurol. 2005 Nov;62(11):1750-4.

BACKGROUND: Findings from studies investigating whether physical activity reduces the risk of cognitive decline in old age have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether participation in physical activity by older adults reduces the rate of cognitive decline after accounting for participation in cognitively stimulating activities. DESIGN: A prospective population study conducted from August 1993 to January 2003, with an average follow-up of 6.4 years. CONCLUSION: These data do not support the hypothesis that physical activity alone protects against cognitive decline among older adults.



Colcombe S, Kramer AF. Fitness effects on the cognitive function of older adults: a meta-analytic study. Psychol Sci. 2003 Mar;14(2):125-30. 

A meta-analytic study was conducted to examine the hypothesis that aerobic fitness training enhances the cognitive vitality of healthy but sedentary older adults. Fitness training was found to have robust but selective benefits for cognition, with the largest fitness-induced benefits occurring for executive-control processes. 



Carretti B, Borella E, De Beni R. Does strategic memory training improve the working memory performance of younger and older adults? Exp Psychol. 2007;54(4):311-20.

The paper examines the effect of strategic training on the performance of younger and older adults in an immediate list-recall and a working memory task. The experimental groups of younger and older adults received three sessions of memory training, teaching the use of mental images to improve the memorization of word lists. In contrast, the control groups were not instructed to use any particular strategy, but they were requested to carry out the memory exercises. The results showed that strategic training improved performance of both the younger and older experimental groups in the immediate list recall and in the working memory task. Of particular interest, the improvement in working memory performance of the older experimental group was comparable to that of the younger experimental group.



Cavallini E, Pagnin A, Vecchi T. Aging and everyday memory: the beneficial effect of memory training. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2003 Nov-Dec;37(3):241-57.

The authors investigated elderly people's ability to benefit from specific memory training. Empirical evidence of cognitive aging shows a deterioration in working memory ability but also suggests that elderly people maintain the ability to acquire new information and strategies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of two different mnemonic strategies (Loci mnemonic vs. Strategic training) in young and older adults and to evaluate the ability of the older groups to improve performance. The elderly benefit from strategies as much as younger people; nevertheless, the memory performances of the latter are higher. Differences between the two trainings are found only in the task evaluating ability to re-use learnt strategies in other unfamiliar situations. Improvement in performance was more pronounced for the strategic training.



Cook LJ. Exercises for mental wellness. Couldn't we all benefit? J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2007 May;45(5):8-9.

For most of us, our cognitive functioning could be improved in many ways. Many of us struggle with our thinking skills at times, especially during times of stress and information overload. Some of the research that supports the use of prescribed cognitive exercises to slow cognitive decline in older adults may ultimately prove to be beneficial for all of us. Mental health nurses should encourage regular daily mental workouts, along with aerobic physical exercises, for everyone, not just older adults. Personal fitness training should focus not only on physical fitness, but also on mental fitness.



Ball K, Berch DB, Helmers KF, Jobe JB, Leveck MD, Marsiske M, Morris JN, Rebok GW, Smith DM, Tennstedt SL, Unverzagt FW, Willis SL; Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Study Group. Effects of cognitive training interventions with older adults: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002 Nov 13;288(18):2271-81.

CONTEXT: Cognitive function in older adults is related to independent living and need for care. However, few studies have addressed whether improving cognitive functions might have short- or long-term effects on activities related to living independently. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether 3 cognitive training interventions improve mental abilities and daily functioning in older, independent-living adults. CONCLUSIONS: Results support the effectiveness and durability of the cognitive training interventions in improving targeted cognitive abilities. Training effects were of a magnitude equivalent to the amount of decline expected in elderly persons without dementia over 7- to 14-year intervals. Because of minimal functional decline across all groups, longer follow-up is likely required to observe training effects on everyday function.


Doug Seubert
Guideline Editor
Quality Improvement & Care Management
Marshfield Clinic
1000 N Oak Avenue
Marshfield, WI 54449
(715) 387-5096 (1-800-782-8581 ext. 75096)
seubert.douglas at marshfieldclinic.org


------Original Message------
From:	"Lalitha Garapaty" <lgarapaty at yahoo.com>
Date:	Sun Nov 18, 2007 -- 08:17:22 AM
To:	"healthliteracy at nifl.gov" <healthliteracy at nifl.gov>
Subject:	[HealthLiteracy 1492] Re: health impacting literacy

Think of Older adults, and retirees actively seeking
education, for various reasons. Some learning for
learning sake, others trying to improve their skills
to continue in their present job or change to a new
one. 

Declining cognitive and sensory process have a major
impact on their learning.

Some other questions - 

We hear a lot about supplementing with omega-fats,
beta-carotene etc., for improving memory and cognitive
processes. These are fats and fat soluble vitamins.
What are the risks associated with such
supplementation? Is there any research on safe doses? 

Similarly exercise of body and mind are also
considered to improve cognitive processes. Are these
claims just popular beliefs? Is there any existing
research to support this?

What other health related risks could be effecting the
learning of these adults and how to navigate around
these issues for a better learning experience? Any
thoughts, research in this field? 

Lalitha

--- healthliteracy-request at nifl.gov wrote:


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>    1. [HealthLiteracy 1487] Re: how does health

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>       (AZSA at aol.com)

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> Message: 1

> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 12:47:48 EST

> From: AZSA at aol.com

> Subject: [HealthLiteracy 1487] Re: how does health

> impact literacy?

> To: healthliteracy at nifl.gov

> Message-ID: <d4e.17350bea.3465f744 at aol.com>

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> 

> The number of health issues that can have a direct

> impact on literacy is  

> vast.  I'd like to add a few more to the ones

> already named in the  discussion.  

> Some of them are, in fact, rather common! 

>     *   asthma/bronchitis/common cold - anything

> that generates frequent  

> coughing 

>     *   pin worms and other parasitic diseases -

> these not only cause sleep  

> deprivation, but daytime symptoms as well (not to

> mention nutritional  

> aspects) 

>     *   dental and oral issues - pain,

> embarrassment, speech and nutritional  

> considerations  (even 'normal' growth and

> development events like  losing 

> primary teeth can be incredibly distracting) 

>     *   anything causing itching - poison ivy,

> scabies/lice, eczema, etc. 

>     *   menstrual symptoms 

>     *   sleep deprivation 

>     *   bullying and interpersonal violence 

>     *   eating disorders

> Anne Zettek-Sumner, RN., M.Ed.

> 

> 

> 

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