Vahid Moghaddam; Mahmood Soltani; ,Hamed Almasi vand
Abstract
Background and Aim: Physical activity based on intensity and duration could have an effective impact on cognitive status. Moreover, using the herbal supplement along with exercise training regulates the secretion of pre-inflammatory cytokines, and has a positive impact on the cognitive status. ...
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Background and Aim: Physical activity based on intensity and duration could have an effective impact on cognitive status. Moreover, using the herbal supplement along with exercise training regulates the secretion of pre-inflammatory cytokines, and has a positive impact on the cognitive status. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of 12 weeks aerobic exercise and saffron supplement consumption on cognitive condition and serum levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in elderly men. Materials and Methods: Forty men with average age of 68.12±2.99 years and body mass index of 25.77±1.2 kg/m2 were purposefully selected and randomly divided into four equal groups (n=10) including aerobic exercise, saffron, aerobic exercise+saffron and placebo. The interventions were conducted for 12 weeks. Aerobic exercise included 8 minutes running up to 75-85 percent of maximal reserve heart rate were performed in the first session. In every two sessions, one minute was added to the running time, so that after 12 weeks, the running time reached to 26 minutes. Saffron supplement was taken daily in the form of capsules with a dose of 200 mg. Measurement of IL-1β and TNF-α were done using Elisa method. Cognitive status was measured by MMSE questionnaire. Data were analyzed by mixed design analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test at the significant level of p<0.05. Results: Serum levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in three intervention groups decreased significantly; but it indicated higher changes after exercise+saffron intervention (p<0.05). Moreover, cognitive status improved significantly in the intervention groups than placebo group; so that this improvement was higher in the exercise+saffron group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Consuming saffron supplements along with aerobic exercise, at least for 12 weeks, is associated with improving cognitive status and reducing inflammatory factors in the elderly; these changes probably prevent cognitive disorders and Alzheimer’s disease in old age.
Hossein Sadeghi Dehcheshme; Ehsan Tasoujian; Ali Reza Omidi
Abstract
Background and Aim: Improving the affective factors of balance could be a critical procedure in managing the elderly's balance dysfunction. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of eight weeks foot reflexology on balance and ankle joint proprioception error in elderly men. Materials and ...
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Background and Aim: Improving the affective factors of balance could be a critical procedure in managing the elderly's balance dysfunction. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of eight weeks foot reflexology on balance and ankle joint proprioception error in elderly men. Materials and Methods: This semi-empirical study was designed as pre-test - post-test with two empirical - control groups. The sample of study were 30 healthy elderly men, aged 60 to 80 years and located in the Farsan, selected among 100 elderly men. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups included empirical group (15 man) with mean age 76.58±7.93 (years) and exercising reflexology and control group (15man) with mean age 77.64±6.27 (years). The amount of error in the reconstruction of the ankle joint angles in inversion and eversion andstatic and dynamic balance time was measured in pre test and post test of each group. Intervention group was performed 30 minutes reflexology foot in both feet (for each foot 15 minutes) and 3 sessions per week during eight week. Data was analyzes using paired and independent t test at significant level of pResults: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups' error average in reconstructing of the joint angles before the intervention. The results of an independent t-test showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups' error average in reconstructing joint angles before the intervention (p>0.05). However, after the intervention it has been shown that there was significant difference in error average and static and dynamic of the empirical group than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on findings of this study it can be concluded that foot reflexology may improve static and dynamic balance and ankle proprioception in elderly men.
