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Effects of Physically Active Interventions on Health and Well-Being in...
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Effects of Physically Active Interventions on Health and Well-Being in Older Adults

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 2641

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jesus Diaz García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Psychology, University G’ d Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
2. BIND-Behavioral Imaging and Neural Dynamics, University G’ d Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
Interests: active aging; mental fatigue; fatigability; cognitive performance; healthspan

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The European Union and other global institutions are actively addressing the socioeconomic challenges posed by the global aging population. Promoting active aging through research-informed interventions is one of the most effective tested strategies to prevent health risks in older adults and mitigate associated costs. This Special Issue aims to enhance our understanding of how physical, cognitive, or combined (i.e., physical plus cognitive exercises) training interventions can improve the health and well-being of the older adult population. We welcome studies that explore the impact of these interventions on various aspects of health, including cognitive function, physical fitness, and emotional well-being.

Research focusing on the effects of training interventions on cognitive aspects and fatigability is particularly encouraged, as these factors play a crucial role in the overall quality of life for older adults. By investigating how different types of training can enhance cognitive performance and reduce fatigue, we can develop more effective strategies to support healthy aging. This Special Issue seeks to gather innovative research that provides insights into the mechanisms underlying the benefits of training and offers practical recommendations for designing interventions tailored to the needs of the older adult population.

We invite contributions that utilize diverse methodologies, including longitudinal studies, randomized controlled trials, and qualitative research, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of physically active interventions. Formative/process evaluations are also welcome.

By advancing our knowledge in this area, we aim to contribute to the development of evidence-based practices that promote active and healthy aging. This information is of high importance to improve population health and well-being and reduce healthcare costs.

Dr. Jesus Diaz García
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Sports 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 1800 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

  • active aging
  • mental fatigue
  • fatigability
  • cognitive performance
  • sarcopenia
  • healthspan

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 420 KB  
Article
Effects of 12-Week Multicomponent Training Program on Body Composition, Metabolic Health, and Physical Performance in Middle-Aged and Older Women: Exploratory Role of Baseline Adiposity
by Citlali Campos-Hernández, Tatiana Romero-García, Héctor Frayde-Gómez, Cristhian Emmanuel López-Campos, María Jossé Navarro-Ibarra, Juan Carlos Borbón-Román, Juan Pablo Machado-Parra, Victor Enrique Porras-Alvarado and Mario Israel Oregel-Cortez
Sports 2026, 14(5), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14050204 - 15 May 2026
Viewed by 379
Abstract
Combined functional training (FT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and aquatic exercise may improve health-related fitness in aging populations; however, the influence of baseline adiposity on training responses remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of a 12-week multicomponent training program on aerobic capacity, [...] Read more.
Combined functional training (FT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and aquatic exercise may improve health-related fitness in aging populations; however, the influence of baseline adiposity on training responses remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of a 12-week multicomponent training program on aerobic capacity, body composition, metabolic health, and physical performance in middle-aged and older women and explored whether baseline body fat percentage modulated these responses. Thirty-four women (50–72 years) were assigned to a control group (Ctrl, n = 10) or an exercise group, stratified into normal fat (NF%, n = 10) and high fat (HF%, n = 14). The intervention included three weekly 60 min sessions consisting of HIIT, FT, and aquatic-based interval and resistance exercises, while controls maintained their habitual lifestyle without structured exercise. Significant improvements were observed in VO2max, skeletal muscle mass, fasting insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and functional performance. Baseline adiposity influenced metabolic adaptations, with greater improvements in the HF% group. These findings suggest that multicomponent training may improve cardiometabolic health and physical performance; however, the results should be interpreted cautiously due to the quasi-experimental design and small sample size. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Physically Active Interventions on Health and Well-Being in Older Adults)
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20 pages, 3531 KB  
Article
Cognition, Physical Performance, and Fall-Related Mobility Outcomes in Healthy Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Federica Marmondi, Vittoria Ferrando, Roberto Codella, Luca Filipas, Piero Ruggeri, Antonio La Torre, Emanuela Luisa Faelli and Matteo Bonato
Sports 2025, 13(12), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13120429 - 3 Dec 2025
Viewed by 744
Abstract
Aging entails concurrent declines in physical and cognitive domains, contributing to reduced independence, higher fall risk, and lower quality of life. Understanding how motor performance relates to cognition is crucial for prevention in community-dwelling older adults. This cross-sectional study investigated associations between physical [...] Read more.
Aging entails concurrent declines in physical and cognitive domains, contributing to reduced independence, higher fall risk, and lower quality of life. Understanding how motor performance relates to cognition is crucial for prevention in community-dwelling older adults. This cross-sectional study investigated associations between physical fitness—including strength, endurance, balance, and aerobic capacity—and cognitive outcomes assessed by Trail Making Tests (TMT-A, TMT-B), the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and dual-task cost in the Timed Up & Go Test (TUG_DTC). Thirty-four sedentary but cognitively healthy adults aged ≥60 years were evaluated. Quadriceps strength was significantly related to TUG_DTC and executive function (TMT-B), while upper-limb endurance correlated with both attentional and executive measures. Dynamic balance, particularly in posterior directions, was linked to DSST and TMT-B, and 6-min walk test performance was associated with executive functioning and processing speed. TUG_DTC itself showed strong correlations with cognitive outcomes, underscoring its sensitivity to motor–cognitive interference. These findings highlight selective motor–cognitive relationships and suggest that simple, field-based tests may serve as early markers of cognitive vulnerability. Targeting lower-limb strength, balance, and aerobic capacity could represent cost-effective strategies to promote mobility and cognitive resilience in aging populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Physically Active Interventions on Health and Well-Being in Older Adults)
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Review

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9 pages, 646 KB  
Review
Highlighting the Role of Mental Fatigue as a Health Risk Factor: A Narrative Review
by Jesús Díaz-García, Steven R. Bray, Tomás García-Calvo, Luca Bovolon, Marika Berchicci and Christopher Ring
Sports 2026, 14(3), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14030106 - 9 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state induced by sustained effortful cognitive efforts during daily life activities. Yet research efforts in exercise science have focused primarily on performance implications for athletes to the point of exclusion of vulnerable populations for which mental fatigue may [...] Read more.
Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state induced by sustained effortful cognitive efforts during daily life activities. Yet research efforts in exercise science have focused primarily on performance implications for athletes to the point of exclusion of vulnerable populations for which mental fatigue may be a health risk. This narrative review aims to clarify the role of mental fatigue on population health. Evidence suggest mental fatigue predisposes people to acute events related to temporary performance impairments (e.g., falls), and chronic diseases related to sedentarism (e.g., stroke, diabetes), as mental fatigue de-motivates people to engage in physical activity. Major risks are experienced by people with higher fatigability (i.e., people for whom mental fatigue is induced by less effortful tasks) and lower performance capacity. However, the few available information about moderators of fatigability and the lack of a normative protocol to assess mental fatigue are limiting the prevention of mental fatigue. Several strategies are used to counter mental fatigue acutely (e.g., caffeine ingestion); however, enduring countermeasures intended to alter psychobiological sequelae of mental fatigue, such as Brain Endurance and other trainings, are the only proved long-term countermeasures for mental fatigue. Yet the effectiveness of these interventions should be tested in populations with major risk for mental fatigue. We present a model identifying putative pathways through which mental fatigue may contribute to health risks to guide future investigations seeking to (a) evaluate the role of mental fatigue as a threat to health and well-being and (b) design interventions to mitigate the effects of mental fatigue in vulnerable populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Physically Active Interventions on Health and Well-Being in Older Adults)
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