Improvements to executive function during exercise training predict maintenance of physical activity over the following year.

ABSTRACT: Previous studies have shown that exercise training benefits cognitive, neural, and physical health markers in older adults. It is likely that these positive effects will diminish if participants return to sedentary lifestyles following training cessation. Theory posits that that the neurocognitive processes underlying self-regulation, namely executive function (EF), are important to maintaining positive health behaviors. Therefore, we examined whether better EF performance in older women would predict greater adherence to routine physical activity (PA) over 1 year following a 12-month resistance exercise training randomized controlled trial. The study sample consisted of 125 community-dwelling women aged 65-75 years old. Our primary outcome measure was self-reported PA, as measured by the

SUBMITTER: Best JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4034407 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature