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Background: The effectiveness of isolated resistance training (RT) on cognitive function among older adults with schizophrenia is insufficiently investigated. This study investigated the effectiveness of 12‐weeks POWER rehabilitation, a novel RT regimen, on cognitive function among older patients with schizophrenia and frailty. Methods: Thirty‐two older adults with schizophrenia and frailty were enrolled and randomized to receive either a 12‐week, twice weekly POWER rehabilitation, or without add‐on training. Cognitive functioning was assessed using mini‐mental state examination (MMSE), digit symbol substitution test, color trail task (CTT), and digit span task (DST). Physical performance was assessed by walking speed and hand grip strength. The generalized estimating equations was used to compare pre‐ and post‐training outcome measure between groups. Results: Between‐group analysis revealed significant improvement in CTT1 and hand grip strength in the intervention group compared to the controls. Subgroup analyses showed CTT1 performance significantly improved after 12 weeks of POWER rehabilitation in the intervention group (time, p <.001), independent of age, educational level, global cognition, depressive symptoms, and psychotropic medication use. Increased hand grip strength was significantly associated with improved performance in MMSE, CTT1, and DST forward at study endpoint. Conclusion: A 12‐week POWER rehabilitation for older patients with schizophrenia and frailty is safe and feasible, and may benefit physical and some domains of cognitive functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Taiwanese government implemented stringent preventative health measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. However, these measures negatively affected the physical activity behaviors and psychological distress of individuals. In this study, we investigated the effects of Taiwan's COVID-19 alert–based restrictions on the physical activity behaviors and psychological distress of community-dwelling older adults. Methods: In this longitudinal study, 500 community-dwelling older adults were randomly sampled from a health promotion center in Taiwan. Telephone interviews were conducted between May 11, 2021, and August 17, 2021, which coincided with the Level 3 alert period when group physical activities were prohibited. Telephone interviews were again conducted between June 20, 2022, and July 4, 2022, after the alert level was reduced to Level 2 but group physical activities were prohibited period. Through the telephone interviews, data regarding the participants' physical activity behaviors (type and amount) and 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5) scores were collected. Moreover, data regarding physical activity behaviors were collected from the records of our previous health promotion programs, which were conducted before the national alert period. The obtained data were analyzed. Results: The alert levels influenced physical activity behaviors. Because of strict regulations, physical activity amount decreased during the Level 3 alert period and did not recover rapidly during the Level 2 alert period. Instead of engaging in group exercises (e.g., calisthenics and qigong), the older adults chose to exercise alone (e.g., strolling, brisk walking, and biking). Our findings indicate that the COVID-19 alert level has a significant influence on the amount of physical activity for participants (p < 0.05, partial η2 = 0.256), with pairwise comparisons showing that the physical activity amount decreased significantly across the three time periods (p < 0.05). The psychological distress of the participants did not appear to change during the regulation period. Although the participants' overall BSRS-5 score was slightly lower during the Level 2 alert period compared to the Level 3 alert period, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.264, Cohen's d = 0.08) based on a paired t-test. However, the levels of anxiety (p = 0.003, Cohen's d = 0.23) and inferiority (p = 0.034, Cohen's d = 0.159) were considerably higher during the Level 2 alert period than during the Level 3 alert period. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that Taiwan's COVID-19 alert levels influenced the physical activity behaviors and psychological distress of community-dwelling older adults. Time is required for older adults to regain their prior status after their physical activity behaviors and psychological distress were affected by national regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the physical fitness levels of active community-dwelling older adults. Moreover, we investigated the correlation of their (stratified by age and sex) fitness levels with handgrip strength (HGS). Comprehensive physical fitness tests, including sarcopenia screening, were conducted with a total of 2,130 older adults residing in a rural area of Taiwan. The 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles of age- and sex-specific physical fitness levels were determined. Furthermore, we identified the key parameters for assessing the physical fitness of older adults and performed stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Both men and women exhibited age-related decreases in all aspects of functional fitness, a trend indicating that older adults in Taiwan may lose their independence in the future. Furthermore, the regression analysis revealed that HGS was positively correlated with sex, body mass index, and the results of 30-s arm curl and back scratch tests but negatively correlated with age and the result of 8-foot up-and-go test. Our reference values for physical fitness may help assess the fitness levels of active community-dwelling older adults and design community-based health programs to prevent the early loss of independence in community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]