Bewegung gegen Demenz: Wie viel, welche Art – und warum Denksport dazugehört

<h4>Background</h4>Falls and physical inactivity are both linked to increased dementia risk, but their joint impact has not been well studied. It remains unclear whether physical activity can mitigate the elevated dementia risk after a fall and whether it also lowers the likelihood of future falls.<h4>Methods</h4>We used data from 44,488 adults aged ≥ 60 years in three cohorts. Falls and physical activity were self-reported. Incident dementia was tracked during follow-up. Cox proportional hazards models estimated the associations of falls with dementia and physical activity with dementia and falls, stratified by fall history.<h4>Results</h4>Over a median follow-up of 5.9-7.9 years, 3,492 dementia cases were identified. Falls were associated with a 70% higher risk of dementia (pooled HR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.57-1.84). In the no-fall group, compared with inactivity, low, moderate, and high physical activity were progressively associated with lower risks of dementia (HRs = 0.63, 0.53, 0.43) and falls (HRs = 0.77, 0.68, 0.58). These protective effects were consistent among fallers, with similar dose-response gradients.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Falls substantially increased dementia risk. Higher levels of physical activity were linked to lower risks of both dementia and falls, regardless of fall history.

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> There is still no clear consensus regarding the efficacy of exercise interventions in maintaining or improving cognitive function among independent older adults, as well as individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. This review explores the potential mechanisms underlying cognitive decline prevention and dementia mitigation from the perspective of motor learning theory, with a particular focus on aerobic-oriented open-skill exercise (OSE) and electronic sports (e-sports). <b>Methods:</b> Comprehensive literature searches were conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CiNii, and J-Stage (all available years) to identify studies examining the relationship between OSE, e-sports, and cognitive function. <b>Results:</b> Although various intervention studies have investigated aerobic exercise, resistance training, and other multifactorial exercise programs, a unified conclusion has not been reached regarding their effectiveness in enhancing cognitive function in the general elderly population or in patients with MCI or dementia. However, sports involving dynamic interaction with opponents (OSE) have shown a positive association with the maintenance and enhancement of cognitive abilities. Furthermore, e-sports present an accessible exercise modality, unrestricted by age, gender, time, or location, and are expected to support cognitive health in older adults. <b>Conclusions:</b> Aerobic-oriented OSE appears more

<h4>Objectives</h4>Preventing cognitive decline is a major challenge in aging research. While mind-body exercises and cognitive training each enhance cognitive function, their combined impact on cognitively normal older adults remains unclear. This study examined whether Baduanjin exercise and cognitive training exert interactive effects on global and domain-specific cognitive function.<h4>Methods</h4>In a 12-week randomized controlled trial with a 2 × 2 factorial design, 162 community-dwelling adults aged 60-75 years with normal cognitive function were assigned to four groups: control (CON), Baduanjin (BG), cognitive training (CT), and combined intervention (BG + CT). Global cognition, memory, attention, executive function, language, and visuospatial ability were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Changes within-group and main and interaction effects were analyzed.<h4>Results</h4>One hundred thirty-eight participants completed the intervention. All intervention groups showed significant cognitive improvements from baseline. BG + CT demonstrated the most consistent improvements, including unique significant gains in long-delay memory. Factorial analyses revealed significant main effects of both Baduanjin and cognitive training on global cognition and multiple cognitive domains (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with notable interaction effects between the two interventions. Simple effects analyses confirmed that BG + CT led to greater improvements than individual interventions, part

The growing population of older cancer survivors faces an elevated risk of accelerated cognitive decline due to the combined effects of aging and cancer-related cognitive impairment. Loneliness and social isolation have also been linked to poorer cognitive outcomes and increased risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). At the same time, regular physical activity and social support interventions may improve cognitive function and reduce risk of cognitive decline. Despite these parallel lines of evidence, few interventions have addressed these modifiable risk factors simultaneously, particularly among older cancer survivors. In this perspective, we propose that group-based exercise may provide synergistic benefits for cognitive health by addressing both physical activity and social engagement. We present a conceptual model in which participation in group exercise promotes exercise-induced neurobiological adaptations that support cognitive function while simultaneously enhancing social connectedness. These processes may reduce loneliness and social isolation, promoting cognitive engagement. We also highlight key considerations for future research, including the potential for virtual or remotely delivered group exercise to increase accessibility, the importance of group dynamics in fostering social support, and the need to incorporate validated measures of loneliness, social isolation, and cognitive function in intervention studies.