###### Abstract  
The cognitive decline that is characteristic of older adults has led researchers to seek methods for improving cognitive functions in this population in the short and long term. One broadly studied aspect relates to physical activity interventions and their impact on cognitive functions in older adults. This study examines the effect of a single session of balance and coordination exercises on the cognitive functions in older adults compared to that of a single session of aerobic exercises or a single control session of reading. The study included 30 physically active participants (23 females), with an average age of 73 (\(\pm\)5) years. The participants completed computerized cognitive tests to assess attention and executive functions in five separate sessions: two without interventions and three with interventions (aerobic exercise; balance and coordination and reading while sitting). The interval between each session was at least two weeks. The order of interventions between participants was random. While no differences were seen between the three types of intervention in executive function scores, our findings indicate that a single session of aerobic exercises and a single session of balance and coordination exercises led to higher scores on the attention test than in the control condition. This suggests that older adults may benefit from a single 30-min session of aerobic exercises or balance and coordination exercises prior to performing attention-demanding tasks. balance and coordination; attention; older adults +
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of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) [12] and the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) [13; 14], which in turn, could accelerate specific structural changes in the brain. Such changes may improve executive functions, attention, processing speed, and memory [14]. Moderate intensity of aerobic activity, for example, has been shown to improve multiple cognitive domains, as well as the performance of tasks that involve attention and memory. Such improvements are associated with thickness in several prefrontal cortex areas [10]. At the same time, resistance exercises (i.e., lifting free weights or using bodybuilding machines, thereby strengthening muscles) both chronic (i.e., several times per week for several months) and acute (i.e., one session of 25-30 min) may improve memory, selective attention, and executive functions among older adults in general, and in older adults with minimal cognitive impairment in particular [13; 14; 15]. The positive effect of acute exercise on cognition may depend on the intensity of the exercise. Moderate-intensity exercise, for example, irritates the afferent interoceptive system and the proprioceptive somatosensory system, leading to the increased tonic release of catecholamines. This process results in a phasic release of dopamine and norepinephrine, and the facilitation of cognitive tasks. However, during severe exercise, the interoceptive system initiates the further tonic release of catecholamines, which attenuates phasic release and might lead to the undesirable inhibition of cognition [16]. While aerobic and resistance modalities are well-studied exercise modalities, the literature lacks studies on the effect of balance and coordination (bal&coor) exercises on cognitive functions among the elderly [17; 18; 19]. As aerobic and strength exercises require higher mobility, people with limited locomotive ability might have difficulty experiencing the beneficial effect of such exercise on their cognitive functioning. Additionally, studies on motor exercises demonstrate that movement task complexity and the related involvement of executive function strongly impact neuroplasticity and cognitive function [17]. As such, exercises with reduced locomotion requirements that are based on cognitive involvement, such as bal&coor exercises, may provide cognitive benefits for elderly people with restricted mobility. Indeed, [PERSON] et al.