Short and Long-Term Trainability in Older Adults: Training and Detraining Following Two Years of Multicomponent Cognitive—Physical Exercise Training

Cristina Blasco-Lafarga, Ana Cordellat, Anabel Forte, Ainoa Roldán and Pablo Monteagudo
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Cristina Blasco-Lafarga: Physical Education and Sports Department, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Ana Cordellat: Physical Education and Sports Department, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Anabel Forte: Statistics and Operational Research Department, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
Ainoa Roldán: Physical Education and Sports Department, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Pablo Monteagudo: Sport Performance & Physical Fitness Research Group (UIRFIDE), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: Despite the benefits of multicomponent physical–cognitive training programs (MC Cog TPs), lower training intensities in the concurrent approach, and bigger heterogeneity with aging, suggest the need for long-term analyses, with special attention to training and detraining in older adults. The present study aims to examine these training/detraining effects in a two year MC Cog TP, looking for specific dynamics in the trainability of their physical and cognitive capacities. The intervention was divided into four periods: T1, T2 (8 months of training each), and D1, D2 (3.5 months of detraining plus 0.5 of testing each). Twenty-five healthy seniors (70.82 ± 5.18 years) comprised the final sample and were assessed for cardiovascular fitness (6-minutes walking test), lower-limbs strength (30-seconds chair-stand test) and agility (8-feet timed up-and-go test). Inhibition (Stroop test) was considered for executive function. Physical and cognitive status improved significantly ( p < 0.05) throughout the two years, with larger enhancements for physical function (mainly strength and agility). Strength and cardiovascular fitness were more sensitive to detraining, whilst agility proved to have larger training retentions. Inhibition followed an initial similar trend, but it was the only variable to improve along D2 (d = 0.52), and changes were not significant within periods. Notwithstanding aging, and the exercise cessation in D2, physical and cognitive status remained enhanced two years later compared to baseline, except for lower-limb strength. According to these results, basic physical capacities are very sensitive to training/detraining, deserving continuous attention (especially strength). Both reducing detraining periods and complementary resistance training should be considered. Additionally, physical enhancements following MC cog TPs may help cognition maintenance during detraining.

Keywords: agility; cardiovascular fitness; dual tasking; executive function; physical exercise; strength (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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