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Resistance Training and Cognitive and Cortical Plasticity in Older Adults

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Social Neuroscience and Public Health

Abstract

In this chapter, we summarize the evidence for resistance training as an effective intervention strategy to combat age-related cognitive decline. Overall, the evidence is equivocal. However, majority of the negative randomized controlled trials had short intervention period, low-intensity or non-progressive protocols, or had small sample sizes. Results from recent randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes with progressive training protocols demonstrate positive effects. It is currently unclear what physiological mechanisms are responsible for changes in cognitive function as a result of resistance training; future animal and human studies are needed. Furthermore, for exercise to be medicine, future work must focus on refining its parameters for precise prescription. Thus, future studies need to consider duration, intensity, and frequency of resistance training. More trials should also include specific populations at risk for dementia (e.g., mild cognitive impairment, chronic stroke survivors, etc.). Finally, in order to compare future trials, it would be helpful to establish a set of standardized set of cognitive measures and standardized exercise protocols.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Teresa Liu-Ambrose & Lindsay S. Nagamatsu

Authors
  1. Teresa Liu-Ambrose
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  2. Lindsay S. Nagamatsu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Teresa Liu-Ambrose .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, University Avenue West 200, Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada

    Peter A. Hall

Highlights

Highlights

  • Resistance training is recommended for adults, particularly seniors, as a primary prevention intervention.

  • There is a growing interest in role of resistance training in the promotion of brain health.

  • Recent randomized controlled trials demonstrate that resistance training can significantly improve cognitive function and functional brain plasticity in both healthy seniors and those with MCI.

  • Negative trials of resistance training and cognitive function generally have shorter intervention periods, training protocols of lower intensity, or smaller sample sizes as compared with the positive trials.

  • For exercise to be medicine, future work must focus on refining the parameters of resistance training for precise prescription to combat cognitive decline.

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Liu-Ambrose, T., Nagamatsu, L.S. (2013). Resistance Training and Cognitive and Cortical Plasticity in Older Adults. In: Hall, P. (eds) Social Neuroscience and Public Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6852-3_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6852-3_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6851-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6852-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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