Lecture 3: Benefits of Physical Activity in the Aged, Successful Aging

Question 1

What are some of the different ways exercise can prevent age related physiological issues (Fat %, Heart Functioning, Strength, and Flexibility)?

Answer 1

Fat %
- Fat % DEC with exercise, almost the same result as young and sedentary people.

Heart Functioning
- Can’t change our maximal HR, but can slow down the decline in VO2 MAX by 0.5% in active aged individuals.

Strength
- Can slow the decline in strength to just a 2% DEC/year.

Flexibility
- Can improve flexibility through stretching and PA.

Question 2

Describe Rowe and Khan’s (1987) Successful Model of Aging. How did the revised study in 1997 characterize Successful Aging? What factors are critical in determining if someone is aging successfully?

Answer 2

• Allows one to see a shift from a focus on negative aspects of aging (aka. aging is a disease) to one emphasizing positive aspects of aging.
• Lifestyle factors play a role in retaining function through age.

Successful Aging Model Criteria:
- Avoiding Disease and Disability
- Having High Cognitive and Physical Functioning
- Engagement with Life

Each aspect affects the other, need a balance between all 3 of the criteria.

Ex. By avoiding D&D, you INC your cognitive and physical functioning which then allows you to engage more with life. Can also work the other way, where by engaging more with life, you have INC cognitive and physical functioning, which will help you prevent D&D.

Critical Factors for Successful Aging:
- Environmental, Behavioral, Lifestyle

Question 3

Describe the study by Baker et al., 2009 on Successful Aging and Physical Activity in Canadians. How many participants were SA? What were the variables that predicted if someone would SA, and how did they affect ones ability to SA?

Answer 3

The study by Baker et al., (2009) was a Canadian survey that looked to see how many Canadians aged > 60 were successfully aging. It was found that out of 12,000 participants, only 11% of the respondents were considered SA, while 77.6% of respondents were deemed as moderately successful, and 11.4% of respondents were deemed as not successfully aging.

Variables = Age, Income, Sex, PA

Takeaway:
- As Age INC and income and PA DEC, potential for SA also DEC.
- Those that are younger, have better income, perform PA, and are male are more likely to successfully age.

Question 4

How is Physical Activity a Determinant of SA when looking at Physical Health?

Answer 4

• Protects individuals from chronic diseases.
• Prevents premature disability.
• Maintains functional abilities (ADL’s).

Question 5

How is Physical Activity a Determinant of SA when looking at Cognitive Function? When are effects the greatest?

Answer 5

Benefits executive control processing, processing speed, and visuospatial processing.
Benefits are best when:
- Endurance + strength training.
- Programs last > 6 months, sessions last 31-45 mins.
- Woman benefit more
- Older you are, more you benefit.

Question 6

How is Physical Activity a Determinant of SA when looking at Active Engagement in Life (AEL)?

Answer 6

• Having a supportive socio-emotional environment is vital.
• Active leisure (walking), and high-demand leisure (swimming, sport) = activities that create meaningful engagement in life.

Question 7

Describe the study by Menec (2003). Who was the study performed on? What was being looked at? What did the study find?

Answer 7

The study by Menec (2003) surveyed a group of aged individuals (67-95 yrs) and assessed their activity performed in 1990. They then looked at how that activity affected their well-being (happiness), functionality, and mortality in 1996.

Activity was divided into Social, Solitary, and Productive activities.

Study found that overall activity INC well-being, functions, and DEC odds of dying.
- Social and Productive activities led to INC happiness, function, and DEC odds of dying.
Solitary activities just INC happiness.

Question 8

Describe the Psychosocial Benefits in Older Adults Performing PA:

Answer 8

• INC vitality and social functioning
• DEC symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.
• +ve emotional well-being (mainly with light intensity exercise).
• +ve effects for light-intensity on PSYCHological QoL.
• +ve effects for moderate-vigorous on PHYSiological QoL.