Healthy Behavior for Preventing Cognitive Disability in Older Persons

Fulvio Lauretani (), Antonio Marcato and Crescenzo Testa
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Fulvio Lauretani: Geriatric Clinic Unit, Medical-Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
Antonio Marcato: Rehabilitation Unit, Medical-Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital, 43126 Parma, Italy
Crescenzo Testa: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Sufficient levels of physical activity are fundamental for preventing cardiovascular disease, dementia, and ultimately disability in older persons, yet this protective factor is nullified when excessive hours are spent in continuous sitting. Balancing physical activity and sedentary behavior is crucial for influencing metabolic parameters and vascular patterns, both central and peripheral, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, vascular dementia, and cognitive impairment. The primary goal of geriatric medicine is to improve quality of life and prevent disability by promptly identifying frail older individuals, thus mitigating both cognitive and motor impairments. Achieving this objective requires not only the optimization of pharmacological treatments but also the active promotion of a healthy lifestyle. In this context, investigating preclinical stages of disability, such as Motoric Cognitive Risk (MCR) Syndrome, which integrates physical and cognitive components of decline, becomes essential. However, despite robust evidence supporting these interventions, greater efforts are needed from the geriatric medical community to bridge the gap between scientific recommendations and everyday clinical practice. Integrating these guidelines into routine care is pivotal for delivering personalized interventions that address both physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary behavior. More research should aim to strengthen this balance, providing clearer, actionable strategies for clinicians to implement, thereby fostering the formation of evidence-based public health guidelines on physical activity specifically tailored for older persons.

Keywords: dementia; older persons; physical activity; sedentary habits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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