The effects of different physical exercise programs and training durations in managing depression of older adults living in long-term care facilities

The effects of different physical exercise programs and training durations in managing depression of older adults living in long-term care facilities

        According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2017), more than 264 million people are affected by depression worldwide, and 7% of them are older adults over 65 years old. In particular, older adults living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are more susceptible to depression due to their separation from family members and changes in family role. Current evidence suggests that physical exercise intervention can effectively counter the negative influence of depression in older adults. However, older adults living in LTCFs may not tolerate regular exercise programs that are designed for healthy older adults, as they are more susceptible to malnutrition and the decline of cognitive and physical function. Thus, it remains unclear whether physical exercise can alleviate depression for older adults living in LTCFs.

        Our systematic review and meta-analysis identified 7,569 relevant publications, and after careful evaluation, 25 articles were selected for our systematic review and 22 articles for the meta-analysis. The included studies investigated the effects of different physical exercise in older adults living in LTCFs, including those with cognitive impairments. The types of physical exercise carried out in these studies included multi-component exercise, aerobic exercise, strength training, mind-body exercises (e.g. yoga or Pilates) and exergames. The results of our meta-analysis indicated that regardless of cognitive impairment, physical exercise was effective in mitigating depressive symptoms in older adults living in LTCFs. Further analysis revealed that mind-body exercise, exergames, and muscle strengthening exercise were the most effective types of exercise in mitigating depressive symptoms.

        Our findings suggest that older adults living in LTCFs, regardless of cognitive impairments, should perform physical exercise regularly to mitigate the symptoms of depression. In regards to the type of physical exercise, mind-body exercise, exergames, and muscle strengthening exercise are more appropriate for older adults living in LTCFs. These findings can provide direction for future developments of physical exercise programs for older adults living in LTCFs.

Graphical Abstract

Applications and Highlights:

1.Physical exercise is effective in mitigating depression of older adults living in long-term care facilities.

2.Among different types of physical exercise, mind-body exercise, exergames, and muscle strengthening exercise are most effective in

mitigating depression of older adults living in long-term care facilities.

【Research Team】

Members: Professor Kuei-Min Chen, Dr. Po-Jung Chen, Dr. Hui-Fen Hsu, Professor Frank Belcastro

Representative Department: Center for Long-term Care Research

Introduction of Research Team: The research team lead by Professor Kuei-Min Chen has long been focusing on research and clinical services for older adults and long-term care sector. The research topics emphasize on health promotion programs for older adults, designing physical exercise programs for older adults, complementary and alternative therapies applications, and a wide array of topics associated with long-term care in aging.

Contact Email: kmc@kmu.edu.tw

【Article Information】

Chen, P. J., Chen, K. M., Hsu, H. F., & Belcastro, F. (2022). Types of exercise and training duration on depressive symptoms among older adults in long-term care facilities. Ageing Research Reviews, 101613. (SCI; Impact factor: 11.788)

Link for full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2022.101613