Effects of resistance training exercise on cognitive performance in elderly individuals with memory impairment: results of a controlled trial

Objective: To detect the effects of a resistance training program on cognitive performance and muscle strength in sedentary elderly individuals with memory impairment. Methods: Thirty-one sedentary elderly persons with no dementia or depression were randomly distributed into two groups: Physical Activity Group and Control Group. The resistance training exercise program lasted nine months and consisted of three series of six exercises per session, carried out on lever-type equipment for approximately one hour, twice a week. Every three months, both groups were submitted to the following cognitive tests: Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test (RBMT), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) Direct and Indirect Digit Span, Memory Complaints Scale, and Cambridge Cognitive Test (CAMCOG). Results: After nine months, the group that did resistance exercises showed a significant increase in the standardized RBMT score (p = 0.021) and in muscle strength (p < 0.001), with no significant difference in the other parameters evaluated. Conclusions: These results indicate that supervised resistance exercises can improve memory performance in sedentary elderly individuals with prior memory compromise, besides increasing muscle strength.