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Life
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Physical Activity in People with Cognitive Impairment
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Physical Activity in People with Cognitive Impairment

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2025) | Viewed by 5812

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Luca Puce

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Interests: adapted physical activity; paralympic athletes and athletes with disabilities; motor disorders; sports sciences; neuroscience and neurophysiology
Dr. Nicola Luigi Bragazzi

grade E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
Interests: public health; mathematical modeling; statistical modeling; sports science; physical education; meta-analysis; systematic reviews
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue dedicated to publishing innovative and high-quality research on the effects, benefits, challenges, and implementation strategies of physical activity in individuals with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other forms of dementia. Cognitive impairment is a significant epidemiological and clinical burden worldwide, impacting millions and placing substantial demands on healthcare systems. Physical activity is increasingly recognized for its crucial role in both preventing and treating cognitive decline.

Our goal is to compile contributions from a wide range of disciplines, including neuroscience, psychology, physiotherapy, sports medicine, and social sciences. We welcome studies covering various aspects of physical activity, such as aerobic exercise, resistance and strength training, adapted physical activity, and exercise-based therapies. We are particularly interested in research on the effects of physical activity, including improvements in cognitive function, reductions in behavioral and psychological symptoms, positive impacts on physical and mental well-being, and enhancements in quality of life.

We encourage studies exploring intervention methods, including individual and group exercise programs, motivation and adherence techniques, and the use of technology to monitor and incentivize physical activity. Research on mechanisms and biomarkers, including biological and neurophysiological mechanisms and the identification of biomarkers related to physical activity, is also highly encouraged.

Additionally, we invite research focused on special athlete populations who may have unique needs and considerations regarding cognitive impairment and physical activity. This includes, but is not limited to, paralympic athletes and athletes with disabilities. Studies examining the impact of tailored physical activity programs for these particular populations and identifying best practices and successful interventions are particularly welcome.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions, which will advance our understanding of how physical activity can benefit those with cognitive impairment and special athlete populations.

Dr. Luca Puce
Dr. Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cognition
  • mild cognitive impairment
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • dementia
  • physical activity
  • sport
  • athletes with disabilities
  • para-athletes

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4244 KiB  
Article
Comparative Pacing Profile and Chronometric Performance in Elite Swimmers with Intellectual Impairments and Able-Bodied Athletes
by Luca Puce, Piotr Zmijewsk, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi and Carlo Trompetto
Life 2024, 14(12), 1623; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14121623 - 7 Dec 2024
Viewed by 796
Abstract
Pacing strategy is a complex self-regulation process, crucial for optimising sports performance. Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (IIs) face unique challenges due to cognitive limitations that may hinder their ability to pace effectively, impacting chronometric performance. This study analysed the pacing profiles and chronometric [...] Read more.
Pacing strategy is a complex self-regulation process, crucial for optimising sports performance. Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (IIs) face unique challenges due to cognitive limitations that may hinder their ability to pace effectively, impacting chronometric performance. This study analysed the pacing profiles and chronometric performance across 253 event entries by elite swimmers with II, divided into three groups: 100 entries for group II1 (intellectual disability), 85 for group II2 (Down syndrome), and 68 for group II3 (autism spectrum disorder). These results were compared with 112 event entries from athletes without disabilities (AWDs). Data were collected from the 2023 Virtus Global Games and the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, focusing on middle-distance and long-distance events. Performance metrics were assessed using 50 m split times, and within-group variability was evaluated through coefficients of variation. Swimmers with IIs showed slower overall chronometric performance than AWDs, with the largest deficits observed in II2 athletes. The II1 and II3 groups displayed more comparable results, with the II1 group outperforming the others slightly. Despite the slower times, pacing profiles were largely similar across all groups, following a parabolic pacing strategy, especially for longer distances. Greater within-group variability in both chronometric performance and pacing profiles was observed in II2 and II3 athletes, reflecting higher functional heterogeneity. In contrast, II1 athletes, and even more so AWDs, exhibited more consistent performance and pacing across all events. While swimmers with II recorded slower times, their pacing strategies resembled those of AWDs, suggesting that cognitive limitations may not significantly impair pacing regulation in swimming. However, the higher variability in II2 and II3 athletes highlights the potential need for revised classification systems to ensure fair competition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity in People with Cognitive Impairment)
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14 pages, 2987 KiB  
Article
Evidence of the Long-Term Protective Effect of Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals: A Predictive Analysis of Longitudinal Studies
by Zikang Hao, Xianliang Zhang and Yu Wang
Life 2024, 14(10), 1343; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14101343 - 21 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1986
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effects of different intensities of physical activity (PA) on cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly individuals, and to predict future trends in cognitive ability using longitudinal data to assess the long-term role of PA in cognitive preservation. Methods: Data [...] Read more.
Objective: To investigate the effects of different intensities of physical activity (PA) on cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly individuals, and to predict future trends in cognitive ability using longitudinal data to assess the long-term role of PA in cognitive preservation. Methods: Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were utilized. Mixed-effects models were employed to analyze the impacts of low-intensity PA (LPA), moderate-intensity PA (MPA), and vigorous-intensity PA (VPA) on overall cognition, episodic memory, and mental intactness. Random forest and XGBoost machine learning methods were employed to further validate the effects of PA. ARIMA models predicted future cognitive trends under the influence of PA. Results: MPA demonstrated significant advantages in preserving cognitive function, particularly in overall cognition and episodic memory. While LPA had some protective effects, they were less significant than those of MPA, and VPA did not show advantages. Machine learning methods confirmed these findings. ARIMA model predictions indicated that the protective effects of MPA on cognitive function are likely to persist in the future. Conclusions: Moderate-intensity physical activity is associated with the preservation of cognitive ability in middle-aged and elderly individuals and may continue to provide this benefit in the future; however, further in-depth research is needed for confirmation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity in People with Cognitive Impairment)
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15 pages, 4465 KiB  
Article
An Adapted Physical Activity Program for Adolescents with an Intellectual Disability: An International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Perspective
by Xin Shen, Peiying Huang, Bing Nie, Maolin Su, Dan Liu, Yin Guo and Lan Zheng
Life 2024, 14(10), 1314; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14101314 - 16 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2570
Abstract
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) offers a comprehensive bio-psycho-social model for evaluating the multifaceted needs of individuals with disabilities. While its adoption in healthcare settings is widespread, its utilization within the domain of physical activity interventions, particularly for adolescents [...] Read more.
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) offers a comprehensive bio-psycho-social model for evaluating the multifaceted needs of individuals with disabilities. While its adoption in healthcare settings is widespread, its utilization within the domain of physical activity interventions, particularly for adolescents with intellectual disabilities (IDs), remains insufficiently explored. This study rigorously examines the efficacy of a 6-month ICF-based Adaptive Physical Activity (APA) intervention on the development of fundamental motor skills (FMSs), improvements in physical fitness (PF), and enhancements in quality of life (QoL) among adolescents with ID. A total of thirty-eight adolescents were randomly allocated into either an intervention group (IG), which participated in the tailored APA program, or a control group (CG), which received standard physical education. The findings demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the IG’s test of gross motor development (TGMD) total, locomotor, object control, and QOL scores relative to the CG (p < 0.001, η² = 0.330, 0.249, 0.224, and 0.439, respectively). Furthermore, substantial gains were observed in PF measures, including upper and lower limb strength as well as cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001, η² = 0.254, 0.351, 0.176). Strong positive correlations were noted between FMS, PF, and QoL (r = 0.34–0.71, p < 0.05). This study underscores the importance of tailoring physical activity programs for adolescents with ID, offering insights into the relationships between FMS, PF, and QoL, and guidance for future interventions aimed at improving health outcomes in this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity in People with Cognitive Impairment)
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