運動對老年人腦氧合功能及認知功能的影響

Effects of exercise on cerebral oxygenation and cognitive function in elderly

隨著老年人認知退化與罹患失智症率逐年增加，提升老年人認知功能已成為一個重要議題。研究指出老化會減少腦部氧化血紅素和總血紅素，降低腦血流量，進而引起認知與健康等問題，規律運動可提升攝氧能力及減緩認知功能衰退。相較於有氧運動，阻力運動對於老年人腦氧合與認知功能的研究較少。本文藉由文獻回顧，比較有氧運動與阻力訓練對於老年人腦氧合及認知功能之效益，並提出下列建議：規律的中高強度有氧運動有助於老年人提升腦氧合狀態並改善認知功能表現，而長期中高強度的阻力運動訓練可增加神經傳遞物質的釋放，有助於減緩老年人認知功能的下降。對於老年族群，合併有氧及阻力運動訓練的運動處方，可更有效的提升老年人的認知功能及健康。

As aging, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and cognition dysfunction increase rapidly in Taiwan. How to promote cognitive function of the elderly is an essential issue. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies indicate that aging is associated with reductions in cerebral hemoglobin and blood flow which result in impairment of cognition and healthy. Many studies have reported that exercise training and /or regular physical activity is benefited in the improvement of systemic circulation and cerebral oxygenation. However, few has examined the effects of resistance exercise on cerebral oxygenation in elderly population. By reviewing previous studies, we compared the effects of resistance and aerobic exercise on cerebral oxygenation and cognition in individuals with advancing aging. The following recommendations were made. Regular aerobic exercise at moderate to high intensity enhance cerebral oxygenation in association with improvement of cognitive function. In addition, long-term resistance exercise training facilitate the release of neurotransmitters which may slow down the decline of cognition in seniors. The combination of aerobic and resistance exercise training may help aging group improving cognitive function and health more efficiently.