In this review we found that exercise interventions ( or lifestyle activities ) that improved cardiorespiratory exercise capacity showed the most positive impact on physical health .
CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that programs should facilitate and support women to participate in regular exercise by embedding physical activity programs in public health initiatives , by developing home-based exercise programs that require few re sources and by creating interventions that can incorporate physical activity within a healthy lifestyle .
The review also suggests that clinicians should consider prescribing exercise in a tailored manner for older women to ensure that it is of a high enough intensity to obtain the positive sustained effects of exercise
BACKGROUND Participation in regular physical activity is among the most promising and cost effective strategies to reduce physical and cognitive decline and premature death .
However , confusion remains about the amount , frequency , and duration of physical activity that is likely to provide maximum benefit as well as the way in which interventions should be delivered .
AIMS This paper aim ed to review research on the impact of leisure-time and general physical activity levels on physical and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women .
A prospective study of physical activity and cognitive decline in elderly women: women who walk.
BACKGROUND Several studies have suggested that physical activity is positively associated with cognitive function in elderly persons . Evidence about this association has been limited by the cross-sectional design of most studies and by the frequent lack of adjustment for potential confounding variables . We determined whether physical activity is associated with cognitive decline in a prospect i ve study of older women . METHODS We studied 5925 predominantly white community-dwelling women ( aged > or = 65 years ) who were recruited at 4 clinical centers and were without baseline cognitive impairment or physical limitations . We measured cognitive performance using a modified  Mini-Mental State Examination  at baseline and 6 to 8 years later .  Physical activity  was measured by self-reported blocks ( 1 block approximately 160 m ) walked per week and by total kilocalories ( energy ) expended per week in recreation , blocks walked , and stairs climbed . Cognitive decline was defined as a 3-point decline or greater on repeated modified Mini-Mental State Examination . RESULTS Women with a greater physical activity level at baseline were less likely to experience cognitive decline during the 6 to 8 years of follow-up : cognitive decline occurred in 17 % , 18 % , 22 % , and 24 % of those in the highest , third , second , and lowest quartile of blocks walked per week ( P < .001 for trend ) . Almost identical results were obtained by quartile of total kilocalories expended per week . After adjustment for age , educational level , comorbid conditions , smoking status , estrogen use , and functional limitation , women in the highest quartile remained less likely than women in the lowest quartile to develop cognitive decline ( for blocks walked : odds ratio , 0.66 [ 95 % confidence interval , 0.54 - 0.82 ] ; for total kilocalories : odds ratio , 0.74 [ 95 % confidence interval , 0.60 - 0.90 ] ) . CONCLUSIONS Women with higher levels of baseline physical activity were less likely to develop cognitive decline . This association was not explained by differences in baseline function or health status . This finding supports the hypothesis that physical activity prevents cognitive decline in older community-dwelling women
In this review we found that exercise interventions ( or lifestyle activities ) that improved cardiorespiratory exercise capacity showed the most positive impact on physical health .
CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that programs should facilitate and support women to participate in regular exercise by embedding physical activity programs in public health initiatives , by developing home-based exercise programs that require few re sources and by creating interventions that can incorporate physical activity within a healthy lifestyle .
The review also suggests that clinicians should consider prescribing exercise in a tailored manner for older women to ensure that it is of a high enough intensity to obtain the positive sustained effects of exercise
BACKGROUND Participation in regular physical activity is among the most promising and cost effective strategies to reduce physical and cognitive decline and premature death .
However , confusion remains about the amount , frequency , and duration of physical activity that is likely to provide maximum benefit as well as the way in which interventions should be delivered .
AIMS This paper aim ed to review research on the impact of leisure-time and general physical activity levels on physical and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women .