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As the number of elderly persons in our country increases, more attention is being given to geriatric healthcare needs and successful ageing is becoming an important topic in medical literature. Concept of successful ageing is in first line on a preventive approach of care for older people. Promotion of regular physical activity is one of the main non-pharmaceutical measures proposed to older subjects as low rate of physical activity is frequently noticed in this age group. Moderate but regular physical activity is associated with a reduction in total mortality among older people, a positive effect on primary prevention of coronary heart disease and a significant benefit on the lipid profile. Improving body composition with a reduction in fat mass, reducing blood pressure and prevention of stroke, as well as type 2 diabetes, are also well established. Prevention of some cancers (especially that of breast and colon), increasing bone density and prevention of falls are also reported. Moreover, some longitudinal studies suggest that physical activity is linked to a reduced risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ageing is known to be associated with a decrease in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and maximal tolerated power (MTP). Regular physical exercise is the most appropriate to improve aerobic capacity, but its effect still remained discussed in old people. Design: The aim of this study was to determine whether a short interval training session would be associated with improvements in exercise efficiency in aged subjects in both genders. Methods: In all, 19 women and 16 men (65.4 ± 4.9 years) performed a cycle incremental exercise test before and after a 9-week period of aerobic interval training (twice a week, 30 min session where 6 × 4-min at the first ventilatory threshold alternated with 1-min at the second ventilatory threshold) with cycle ergometer. Minute ventilation (MV), O2 uptake (VO2) and CO2 output (VCO2) were measured breath-by-breath and by an open-circuit metabolic cart. Results: Before training, maximal values of MV (MMV), VO2peak, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, MTP, blood lactate at MTP recovery and the power at the first (pVT1) and second ventilatory thresholds (pVT2) were higher in men compared with women. Nine weeks of interval training induced a significant increase in MMV, VO2peak, MTP, pVT1 and pVT2 and decrease in systolic blood pressure in the same way in men than in women, without any significant effect on their maximal heart rate values. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the age-related declines in aerobic index are attenuated by a short exercise interval training sessions in women and men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Social isolation and quarantine are unusual precautions taken all over the world against the COVID‐19 pandemic. Some legal sanctions were made in order to protect vulnerable age groups such as the geriatric population, to make them stay at home. These measures, which are vital for pandemic management, have negative psychological effects on elderly individuals. The aim of this study was to reveal how pandemic process affected individuals over 65 years old psychosocially. Materials and methods: Socio‐demographic characteristics questionnaire, the COVID‐19 Phobia Scale (C19P‐S) and the Loneliness Scale for the Elderly individuals were used. Descriptive analysis, Mann‐Whitney U‐test, Kruskal‐Wallis test, Pearson correlation analysis were performed for data analysis. Results: A total of 130 elderly people (80 women, 50 men) were included in the study. Of the participants, 61.5% were women, 67.7% were married and mean age was 71.53 ± 5.57 (min. 65‐max. 87) years old. The C19P‐S scores were significantly higher in women, singles, people living alone, those living in an apartment, and those with higher economic and educational level (P =.001). There was a strong positive correlation between age and total loneliness score. Loneliness scores were significantly higher in singles, those with higher levels of education and income, those who live alone, who was a relative of a healthcare worker, and whose relatives were infected with COVID‐19 (P <.05). Conclusion: Our study revealed that elderly individuals, who have to comply with social isolation rules, have increased fear and loneliness due to coronavirus. Considering this situation, timely psychological treatment and social support measures should be taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Social isolation and quarantine are unusual precautions taken all over the world against the COVID‐19 pandemic. Some legal sanctions were made in order to protect vulnerable age groups such as the geriatric population, to make them stay at home. These measures, which are vital for pandemic management, have negative psychological effects on elderly individuals. The aim of this study was to reveal how pandemic process affected individuals over 65 years old psychosocially. Materials and methods: Socio‐demographic characteristics questionnaire, the COVID‐19 Phobia Scale (C19P‐S) and the Loneliness Scale for the Elderly individuals were used. Descriptive analysis, Mann‐Whitney U‐test, Kruskal‐Wallis test, Pearson correlation analysis were performed for data analysis. Results: A total of 130 elderly people (80 women, 50 men) were included in the study. Of the participants, 61.5% were women, 67.7% were married and mean age was 71.53 ± 5.57 (min. 65‐max. 87) years old. The C19P‐S scores were significantly higher in women, singles, people living alone, those living in an apartment, and those with higher economic and educational level (P =.001). There was a strong positive correlation between age and total loneliness score. Loneliness scores were significantly higher in singles, those with higher levels of education and income, those who live alone, who was a relative of a healthcare worker, and whose relatives were infected with COVID‐19 (P <.05). Conclusion: Our study revealed that elderly individuals, who have to comply with social isolation rules, have increased fear and loneliness due to coronavirus. Considering this situation, timely psychological treatment and social support measures should be taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ageing process is intrinsically associated with decline in physical endurance, muscle strength and gait ability and balance, which all contribute to functional disability. Regular physical training, and more particularly multicomponent training (MCT), has demonstrated many health benefits.Objective: To evaluate the evidence of the health benefits of MCT including endurance training, muscle strengthening, balance exercises, and/or stretching (i.e. flexibility training) and/or coordination training in adults aged 65 years or over.Methods: A comprehensive, systematic database search for manuscripts was performed in CINAHL Plus, Embase, Medline, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Sport Discus and Web of Science using key words. For potential inclusion, two reviewers independently assessed all intervention studies published in English language from 1 January 2000 to 30 April 2015.Results: Of 2525 articles initially identified, 27 studies were finally included in this systematic review. They were all divided into five categories according to their main outcome measurements (cardio-respiratory fitness, metabolic outcomes, functional and cognitive functions and quality of life, QoL). These studies reported that MCT has a significant beneficial effect on cardio-respiratory fitness and on metabolic outcomes. Substantial improvement in functional and cognitive performance was also measured and a slighter but positive effect on QoL.Conclusion: Overall, this review demonstrates a positive effect of MCT with functional benefits and positive health outcomes for seniors. Based on this evidence, clinicians should encourage all adults aged 65 or over to engage in MCT programmes to favour healthy ageing and keeping older members of our society autonomous and independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing in older patients and it is ubiquitous in many developed countries. Obesity is related to various negative health outcomes, making it a major public health target for intervention.Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore and summarise the literature that addresses endurance training alone or combined with nutrition interventions to combat obesity in obese patients over age 60.Methods: We searched online electronic databases up to September 2014 for original observational and intervention studies published between 1995 and 2014 on the relationship between endurance training alone or combined with a diet in obese patients over 60 regarding health outcomes.Results: Twenty-six studies examined interventions aimed specifically at promoting endurance training alone or combined with diet for older obese patients over 60. These studies demonstrated a positive effect of this intervention on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, and a significant beneficial effect on the lipid profile. Improvement of body composition and insulin sensitivity, and a reduction in blood pressure were also well established.Conclusions: Overall, this review demonstrates a positive effect of endurance training alone or combined with diet on health outcomes and metabolic benefits in older adults. Clinicians can now use this evidence to formulate actions to encourage the older obese to profit from the health benefits of endurance training and diet. This will not only help reduce the dramatic increase in the number of older obese but also help prevent sarcopenic obesity, which is a complex challenge for healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims of the study: Stiffening of large arteries has been associated with increased cardiovascular outcomes among older subjects. Endurance exercises might attenuate artery stiffness, but little is known about the effects of intermittent training programme. We evaluate the effect of a short Intermittent Work Exercise Training Program (IWEP) on arterial stiffness estimated by the measure of the pulse wave velocity (PWV). Methods and subjects: Seventy-one healthy volunteers (mean age: 64.6 years) free of symptomatic cardiac and pulmonary disease performed a 9-week IWEP that consisted of a 30-min cycling twice a week over a 9-week period. Each session involved six 5-min bouts of exercise, each of the latter separated into 4-min cycling at the first ventilatory threshold alternated with 1-min cycling at 90% of the pretraining maximal tolerated power. Before and after the IWEP, the following measurements were made: carotid-radial PWV and carotid-femoral PWV with a tonometer and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Results: Training resulted in a non-significant decrease of the carotid-radial PWV, a significant decrease of the carotid-femoral PWV from 10.2 to 9.6 m/s (p < 0.001) (that was no longer significant after adjustment for mean arterial pressure) and a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, from 129.6 ± 14.9 mmHg to 120.1 ± 14.1 mmHg (p < 0.001) and from 77.2 ± 8.8 mmHg to 71.4 ± 10.1 mmHg (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The present results support the idea that a short-term intermittent aerobic exercise programme may be an effective lifestyle intervention for reducing rapidly blood pressure and probably central arterial stiffness among older healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]