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  • Effects of exercise on quality of life in subjects with Alzheimer’s disease: systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
    Publication . Mendes, Mariana; Correia, Érica; Vitorino, Anabela; Rodrigues, José; Cid, Luis; Bento, Teresa; Antunes, Raul; Monteiro, Diogo; Couto, Nuno
    Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that progressively affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It can interfere with daily activities and lead to a decline in cognitive abilities over time. Exercise-based interventions can complement Alzheimer’s disease treatment. Exercise is a valuable tool in all healthcare settings and has shown promise as an effective cognitive improvement intervention for people with cognitive impairments. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyze the effect of physical exercise on the QoL of subjects with Alzheimer’s disease. A search was performed with the help of the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials with exercise-based interventions were selected. Four studies met the inclusion criteria, which included interventions based on exercise. The effects were summarized using standardized mean differences (95% confidence intervals) using random-effect models. The results showed that exercise had no significant effect on the QoL of subjects with Alzheimer. Thus, the effect of exercise interventions on the QoL of patients with Alzheimer’s disease is not conclusive. More research is needed about this topic and the way in which the QoL is assessed; the necessity to conduct an objective way to assess the QoL in this population is mandatory.
  • Age and sex differences in physical activity of portuguese adults and older adults
    Publication . Bento, Teresa; Mota, Maria P.; Vitorino, Anabela; Monteiro, Diogo; Cid, Luis; Couto, Nuno
    This study aims to explore data on objectively measured physical activity from a sample of adults and older adults and to investigate the achievement of the minimum physical activity required for health benefits. Participants, 257 women (age 58.99 ± 18.93 years, BMI 26.75 ± 4.57 kg·m−2 ) and 178 men (age 49.22 ± 20.39 years, BMI 26.81 ± 3.51 kg·m−2 ), wore an accelerometer for 4 to 7 days. Approximately 40% of the time was spent daily in sedentary behaviors during waking hours. Our results do not sustain the suggestion that adult men are more physically active than women. The results indicated a decrease in intensity of physical activity with age, in men and women, but not in successive age groups. Around 75% of adults and 30% of older adults accumulated the minimum daily physical activity for health benefits, in periods shorter than 10 min, above moderate intensity. The number of steps taken per day revealed that most men and women (except the oldest) attained or exceeded the lower threshold for deriving health benefits. To obtain relevant health benefits, future physical activity interventions should aim at reversing the amount of sedentary behaviors, emphasizing increments in, at least, the lower levels of PA, and maintaining walking habits.
  • Move4Future: implementation and effects of a pilot physical exercise programme for children and youth at risk from multi problem families
    Publication . Mercê, Cristiana; Simões, Vera; Ramos, Liliana; Silva, Miguel; Brígida, Nancy; Vitorino, Anabela; Branco, Marco; Oliveira, Rafael; Oliveira, Rafael; Mercê, Cristiana; Simões, Vera; Ramos, Liliana; Vitorino, Anabela; Branco, Marco
    Introduction and Objective: Multi-problem families include several risk factors (e.g., mental health and weight issues). Physical exercise could be a strategy to prevent, treat and overcome numerous disorders. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the effects of implementing the Move4Future pilot program, in children and adolescents, on the following variables: i) anxiety levels, ii) body composition, iii) physical fitness, and iv) physical activity levels. Methodology: Ten participants (10.61±2.40 years) completed a 12-week physical exercise program with a weekly frequency of one session and were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The Re vised Manifest Anxiety Scale for Children, body mass, height, triceps skinfold, calf skinfold, re laxed arm circumference, waist circumference, calf circumference, and the FITescola® battery tests (push-ups, horizontal jump, agility, shoulder flexibility and lower limb flexibility) were applied. Results and Conclusions: The main results showed a lower anxiety trait, although this change was not statistically significant (z=-1.832, p=0.067), a significant increase in stature (z=-2.197, p=0.028), a significant decrease in body mass index (z=-2.366, p=0.018), and in waist circum ference (z=-2.201, p=0.028). The Move4Future pilot program shows improvement in average values of anxiety levels, body composition and upper strength in physical fitness. However, a multi-component intervention, including families and more sessions per week, may be im portant for better results.