Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Moving against frailty: does physical activity matter?

  • SI: Frailty, Ageing and Inflammation
  • Published:
Biogerontology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor.

Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Abstract

Frailty is a common condition in older persons and has been described as a geriatric syndrome resulting from age-related cumulative declines across multiple physiologic systems, with impaired homeostatic reserve and a reduced capacity of the organism to resist stress. Therefore, frailty is considered as a state of high vulnerability for adverse health outcomes, such as disability, falls, hospitalization, institutionalization, and mortality. Regular physical activity has been shown to protect against diverse components of the frailty syndrome in men and women of all ages and frailty is not a contra-indication to physical activity, rather it may be one of the most important reasons to prescribe physical exercise. It has been recognized that physical activity can have an impact on different components of the frailty syndrome. This review will address the role of physical activity on the most relevant components of frailty syndrome, with specific reference to: (i) sarcopenia, as a condition which frequently overlaps with frailty; (ii) functional impairment, considering the role of physical inactivity as one of the strongest predictors of physical disability in elders; (iii) cognitive performance, including evidence on how exercise and physical activity decrease the risk of early cognitive decline and poor cognition in late life; and (iv) depression by reviewing the effect of exercise on improving mood and increasing positive well-being.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott RD, White LR, Ross GW, Masaki KH, Curb JD, Petrovitch H (2004) Walking and dementia in physically capable elderly men. JAMA 292:1447–1453

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Avila-Funes JA, Amieva H, Barberger-Gateau P et al (2009) Cognitive impairment improves the predictive validity of the phenotype of frailty for adverse health outcomes: the three-city study. J Am Geriatr Soc 57(3):453–461

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bartholomew JB, Morrison D, Ciccolo JT (2005) Effects of acute exercise on mood and well-being in patients with major depressive disorder. Med Sci Sports Exerc 37:2032–2037

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer JM, Sieber CC (2008) Sarcopenia and frailty: a clinician’s controversial point of view. Exp Gerontol 43:674–678

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernabei R, Landi F, Onder G, Liperoti R, Gambassi G (2008) Second and third generation assessment instruments: the birth of standardization in geriatric care. J Gerontol A 63:308–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Binder EF, Yarasheski KE, Steger-May K et al (2005) Effects of progressive resistance training on body composition in frail older adults: results of a randomized, controlled trial. J Gerontol A 60(11):1425–1431

    Google Scholar 

  • Blair SN, Kohl HW 3rd, Barlow CE, Paffenbarger RS Jr, Gibbons LW, Macera CA (1995) Changes in physical fitness and all-cause mortality. A prospective study of healthy and unhealthy men. JAMA 273(14):1093–1098

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brinkley TE, Leng X, Miller ME et al (2009) Chronic inflammation is associated with low physical function in older adults across multiple comorbidities. J Gerontol A 64:455–461

    Google Scholar 

  • Carnethon M, Whitsel LP, Franklin BA, American Heart Association Advocacy Coordinating Committee, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease, Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism et al (2009) Worksite wellness programs for cardiovascular disease prevention: a policy statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 120:1725–1741

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chin A, Paw MJ, van Uffelen JG, Riphagen I, van Mechelen W (2008) The functional effects of physical exercise training in frail older people: a systematic review. Sports Med 38(9):781–793

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cotman CW, Berchtold NC (2002) Exercise: a behavioral intervention to enhance brain health and plasticity. Trends Neurosci 25:295–301

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cress ME, Buchner DM, Questad KA, Esselman PC, deLateur BJ, Schwartz RS (1999) Exercise: effects on physical functional performance in independent older adults. J Gerontol A 54:M242–M248

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer J et al (2010a) Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Report of the European working group on sarcopenia in older people. Age Ageing 39:412–423

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Landi F, Topinková E, Michel JP (2010b) Understanding sarcopenia as a geriatric syndrome. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 13:1–7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daniels R, van Rossum E, de Witte L, Kempen GI, van den Heuvel W (2008) Interventions to prevent disability in frail community-dwelling elderly: a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res 8:278

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elsawy B, Higgins KE (2010) Physical activity guidelines for older adults. Am Fam Physician 81(1):55–59

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ettinger WH, Burns R, Messier SP et al (1997) The Fitness Arthritis and Seniors Trial (FAST): a randomized trial comparing aerobic exercise and resistance exercise to a health education program on physical disability in older people with knee osteoarthritis. JAMA 277:25–31

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fried LP, Tangen CM, Walston J et al (2001) Frailty in older adults: evidence for a phenotype. J Gerontol A 56:M146–M156

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gauchard GC, Gangloff P, Jeandel C, Perrin PP (2003) Influence of regular proprioceptive and bioenergetic physical activities on balance control in elderly women. J Gerontol A 58:M846–M850

    Google Scholar 

  • Geffken D, Cushman M, Burke G et al (2001) Association between physical activity and markers of inflammation in a healthy elderly population. Am J Epidemiol 153:242–250

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ide K, Secher NH (2000) Cerebral blood flow and metabolism during exercise. Prog Neurobiol 61:397–414

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King AC, Taylor CB, Haskell WL (1993) Effects of differing intensities and formats of 12 months of exercise training on psychological outcomes in older adults. Health Psychol 12:292–300

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King AC, Pruitt LA, Phillips W, Oka R, Rodenburg A, Haskell WL (2000) Comparative effects of two physical activity programs on measured and perceived physical functioning and other health-related quality of life outcomes in older adults. J Gerontol A 55:M74–M83

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klusmann V, Evers A, Schwarzer R et al (2010) Complex mental and physical activity in older women and cognitive performance: a 6-month randomized controlled trial. J Gerontol A 65(6):680–688

    Google Scholar 

  • Kortebein P, Ferrando A, Lombeida J, Wolfe R, Evans WJ (2007) Effect of 10 days of bed rest on skeletal muscle in healthy older adults. JAMA 297:1772–1774

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer AF, Hahn S, Cohen NJ et al (1999) Ageing, fitness and neurocognitive function. Nature 400:418–419

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kritz-Silverstein D, Barrett-Connor E, Corbeau C (2001) Cross-sectional and prospective study of exercise and depressed mood in the elderly: the Rancho Bernardo study. Am J Epidemiol 153:596–603

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaCroix AZ, Guralnik JM, Berkman LF, Wallace RB, Satterfield S (1993) Maintaining mobility in late life. II. Smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and body mass index. Am J Epidemiol 137:858–869

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lakka TA, Lakka HM, Rankinen T et al (2005) Effect of exercise training on plasma levels of C-reactive protein in healthy adults: the HERITAGE Family Study. Eur Heart J 26:2018–2025

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landi F, Onder G, Carpenter I, Cesari M, Soldato M, Bernabei R (2007a) Physical activity prevented functional decline among frail community-living elderly subjects in an international observational study. J Clin Epidemiol 60:518–524

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landi F, Russo A, Barillaro C, Cesari M, Pahor M, Danese P, Bernabei R, Onder G (2007b) Physical activity and risk of cognitive impairment among older persons living in the community. Aging Clin Exp Res 19:410–416

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landi F, Russo A, Cesari M et al (2008) Walking one hour or more per day prevented mortality among older persons: results from ilSIRENTE study. Prev Med 47:422–426

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landi F, Russo A, Liperoti R et al (2010) Midarm muscle circumference, physical performance and mortality: results from the aging and longevity study in the Sirente geographic area (ilSIRENTE study). Clin Nutr 29:441–447

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leveille SG, Guralnik JM, Ferrucci L, Langlois JA (1999) Aging successfully until death in old age: opportunities for increasing active life expectancy. Am J Epidemiol 149(7):654–664

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manton KG, Vaupel JW (1995) Survival after the age of 80 in the United States, Sweden, France, England, and Japan. N Engl J Med 333:1232–1235

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCartney N (1999) Acute responses to resistance training and safety. Med Sci Sports Exerc 31:31–37

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Messier SP, Royer TD, Craven TE, O’Toole ML, Burns R, Ettinger WH Jr (2000) Long-term exercise and its effect on balance in older, osteoarthritic adults: results from the Fitness, Arthritis, and Seniors Trial (FAST). J Am Geriatr Soc 48:131–138

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miszko TA, Cress ME, Slade JM et al (2003) Effect of strength and power training on physical function in community-dwelling older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 58:171–175

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Molteni R, Ying Z, Gomez-Pinilla F (2002) Differential effects of acute and chronic exercise on plasticity-related genes in the rat hippocampus revealed by microarray. Eur J Neurosci 16:1107–1116

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morley JE, Baumgartner RN, Roubenoff R, Mayer J, Nair KS (2001) Sarcopenia. J Lab Clin Med 137:231–243

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nicklas BJ, Hsu FC, Brinkley TJ et al (2008) Exercise training and plasma C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in elderly people. J Am Geriatr Soc 56:2045–2052

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pahor M, Blair SN, Espeland M et al (2006) Effects of a physical activity intervention on measures of physical performance: results of the lifestyle interventions and independence for Elders Pilot (LIFE-P) study. J Gerontol A 61:1157–1165

    Google Scholar 

  • Pate RR, Pratt M, Blair SN et al (1995) Physical activity and public health. A recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine. JAMA 273:402–407

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peri K, Kerse N, Robinson E, Parsons M, Parsons J, Latham N (2008) Does functionally based activity make a difference to health status and mobility? A randomised controlled trial in residential care facilities (The Promoting Independent Living Study; PILS). Age Ageing 37(1):57–63

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson MJ, Giuliani C, Morey MC et al (2009) Physical activity as a preventative factor for frailty: the health, aging, and body composition study. J Gerontol A 64A(1):61–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Podewils LJ, Guallar E, Kuller LH et al (2005) Physical activity, APOE genotype, and dementia risk: findings from the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study. Am J Epidemiol 161:639–651

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raison CL, Capuron L, Miller AH (2006) Cytokines sing the blues: inflammation and the pathogenesis of depression. Trends Immunol 27:24–31

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rantanen T, Era P, Heikkinen E (1997) Physical activity and the changes in maximal isometric strength in men and women from the age of 75 to 80 years. J Am Geriatr Soc 45:1439–1445

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rockwood K, Song X, MacKnight C et al (2005) A global clinical measure of fitness and frailty in elderly people. CMAJ 173(5):489–495

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rolfson DB, Majumdar SR, Tsuyuki RT et al (2006) Validity and reliability of the Edmonton Frail Scale. Age Ageing 35:526–529

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rolland Y, Pillard F (2009) Validated treatments and therapeutic perspectives regarding physical activities. J Nutr Health Aging 13:742–745

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rothman MD, Leo-Summers L, Gill TM (2008) Prognostic significance of potential frailty criteria. J Am Geriatr Soc 56(12):2211–2216

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Russo A, Cesari M, Onder G et al (2007) Depression and physical function: results from the aging and longevity study in the Sirente geographic area (ilSIRENTE Study). J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 20:131–137

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sayer AA, Syddall H, Martin H, Patel H, Baylis D, Cooper C (2008) The developmental origins of sarcopenia. J Nutr Health Aging 12:427–432

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teri L, Gibbons LE, McCurry SM et al (2003) Exercise plus behavioral management in patients with Alzheimer disease: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 290:2015–2022

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Topinkova E (2008) Aging, disability and frailty. Ann Nutr Metab 52(S1):6–11

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verghese J, Lipton RB, Katz MJ et al (2003) Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly. N Engl J Med 348:2508–2516

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weuve J, Kang JH, Manson JE, Breteler MM, Ware JH, Grodstein F (2004) Physical activity, including walking, and cognitive function in older women. JAMA 292:1454–1461

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson RS, Mendes De Leon CF et al (2002) Participation in cognitively stimulating activities and risk of incident Alzheimer disease. JAMA 287:742–748

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zak M, Swine C, Grodzicki T (2009) Combined effects of functionally-oriented exercise regimens and nutritional supplementation on both the institutionalised and free-living frail elderly (double-blind, randomised clinical trial). BMC Public Health 9:39

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Francesco Landi & Roberto Bernabei

  2. Scientific Direction, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy

    Angela M. Abbatecola, Silvia Bustacchini & Fabrizia Lattanzio

  3. Immunology Centre, Gerontology Research Department, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy

    Mauro Provinciali

  4. Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology, Research Hospital of Cosenza, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Cosenza, Italy

    Andrea Corsonello

  5. Unit of Geriatric Emergency Care, Research Hospital of Ancona, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy

    Luca Manigrasso

  6. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Antonio Cherubini

Authors
  1. Francesco Landi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Angela M. Abbatecola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mauro Provinciali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Andrea Corsonello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Silvia Bustacchini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Luca Manigrasso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Antonio Cherubini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Roberto Bernabei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Fabrizia Lattanzio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fabrizia Lattanzio.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Landi, F., Abbatecola, A.M., Provinciali, M. et al. Moving against frailty: does physical activity matter?. Biogerontology 11, 537–545 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-010-9296-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-010-9296-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation