A new study suggests getting active can help elderly patients who have trouble sleeping .For the study researchers enrolled 12 healthy adults
A new study suggests getting active can help elderly patients who have trouble sleeping .For the study researchers enrolled 12 healthy adults between the ages of 67 and 86 in a 90-minute daily activity program. The program consisted of 30 minutes of exercise followed by 30 minutes of seated social activity and another 30 minutes of exercise. The sessions took place either in the morning or in the evening, with all participants first taking part in one of the time periods and then in the other. Each session lasted for 14 days. Participants were tested for cognitive performance both before and after the two sessions, and all kept sleep diaries throughout the research.
Results showed an improvement in both cognitive functioning as measured by standard tests and subjective measures of sleep quality in the participants. Positive outcomes were noted for both the morning and evening sessions, although participants scored higher on more measures after the evening sessions.It was observed that many of the health changes associated with aging, including the decline in sleep and cognitive abilities, can be attributed to sedentary lifestyles and social disengagement among older individuals . Thus researchers say maintenance of social engagement and avoidance of social isolation are important factors in maintaining cognitive vitality in old age.
