Effects of resistance training and chess playing on the quality of life and cognitive performance of elderly women: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To analyze the effects of resistance training and chess playing on the cognitive performance and perception of quality of life (QoL) in elderly women. Methods: Twenty-seven elderly women were randomly assigned to an experimental group, which performed resistance training (RG; n=14; age: 66.1±5.1 years), or another group that, in addition to these exercises, participated in chess classes (RCG; n=13; age: 66.5±4.3 years). The resistance training was performed three times a week with 60-minute sessions for 16 weeks. Data on cognition were obtained through the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The QoL was assessed using the WHOQOL-Old. Results: In the cognition analysis pre- and post-test, RCG showed significant improvements in spatial orientation; attention and calculation; recall; language and total scores. The RG presented improvements in spatial orientation and total score. In the post-test intergroup comparison, significant favorable values were obtained for RCG in attention and calculation, recall and total scores. After intervention, RCG presented significant gains in FAC1, FAC2, FAC3, FAC4, FAC5 and overall QoL. The RG showed significant improvements in FAC2, FAC4 and overall QoL. In the intergroup comparison, there were favorable and significant differences of the RCG in relation to the RG in FAC1, FAC2 and overall QoL. Conclusions: Resistance training associated with chess playing can be an efficient strategy to minimize cognitive declines and improve the QoL of elderly women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]