The Effect of Aerobic Training and Vitamin D Supplements on the
Neurocognitive Functions of Elderly Women with Sleep Disorders
Shahrian eshaghi1, Taheri
Morteza111∗ Corressponding
author: m.taheri@soc.ikiu.ac.ir, Irandoust
Khadijeh1, Beat Knechtle2, Pantelis
T. Nikolaidis3, Hamdi Chtourou4,5
Imam Khomeini International University, Faculty of Social Sciences,
Sport Sciences Department
2 Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich,
Zurich, Switzerland
3 Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Nikaia, Greece
4 Activité Physique: Sport et Santé, UR18JS01,
Observatoire National du Sport, Tunis, Tunisie
5 Institut Supérieur du Sport et de l’éducation
physique de Sfax, Université de Sfax, Tunisie
AbstractPurpose : The age-related physical and mental disorders in the
elderly are issues that endure social and economic costs. The aim of the
present study was to examine the effect of aerobic training and vitamin
D supplements on the neurocognitive functions of elderly women with
sleep disorders.
Methods : A quasi-experimental with a pre/post-test study
designwas used , where 36 aged women 60-70 years old were randomly
divided into four groups: aerobic training (ATG), vitamin D (VDG),
aerobic training + vitamin D (ATDG) and control (CG). The aerobic
exercise protocol was performed for eight weeks with three sessions a
week for 50 min. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale was used to evaluate the
sleep status profile of participants. The reaction speed, selective
attention and information processing were measures of the neurocognitive
functions before and after the training period.
Results : The information processing increased significantly
from pre- to post-training by 18.0 % in the ATDG, 15.7 % in the VDG,
and 13.2 % in the ATG (p < 0.001). Also, selective attention
increased significantly from pre- to post-training by 16.2 % in the
ATDG , 12.2 % in the VDG , and 11.9 % in the ATG (p <
0.001). The quality of sleep score was reduced from pre- to
post-training by 42.3 % in the ATDG , 19.1 % in the VDG , and 35.6 %
in the ATG (p < 0.001). However, no difference was observed in
the CG (p > 0.05). The reaction time was reduced
significantly from pre- to post-training by 8.6 % in the ATDG (p
< 0.01). However, no-significant difference was observed in
the CG, the VDG and the ATG (p < 0.05).
Conclusion : The present study showed that aerobic exercise plus
vitamin D supplements improved the neurocognitive functions of elderly
women.
Keywords : Exercise; aging; Vitamin D supplementation.