نوع مقاله : مطالعه پژوهشی اصیل
نویسندگان
1 دانشجوی دکتری، گروه تربیت بدنی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی تهران، ایران.
2 دانشیار، گروه رفتار حرکتی، واحد اصفهان، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، اصفهان، ایران.
3 استادیار، گروه تربیت بدنی،واحد تهران شرق، دانشگاه ازاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران.
4 استادیار، گروه رفتار حرکتی، واحد علوم تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران.
چکیده
کلیدواژه‌ها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Background and Purpose
The most significant social changes of the 21st century will be in the field of population, particularly the increase in the global geriatric population. From 1950 to 2015, the global population aged 65 and older increased by more than 3 percent, reaching 611.9 million people (United Nations, 2017). In Iran, this demographic has grown by 2.3% from 1345 to 1395, reaching 4,871,518 people (Ladier-Fouladi, 2021). It is not possible to diagnose Alzheimer's in its early stages or to predict the exact number of people who will develop it. However, early detection allows for preventative measures. Screening for moderate cognitive impairment, which often serves as a precursor to Alzheimer’s and other related diseases, is a key method for early diagnosis. Alzheimer's disease affects approximately one-tenth of individuals over 65 and half of those over 85 years old. Between 2010 and 2019, around eleven to twelve million people were added to the global number of individuals suffering from the disease. Additionally, the number of individuals over and under the age of 65 has increased every four to five years, with this trend expected to continue. By 2050, this number is projected to more than double.
The Materials and Methods
The statistical population for this study consists of active adult men aged 55 to 84. Using Morgan's table, 396 men who are active in sports such as walking, jogging, slow running, volleyball, bodybuilding, mountaineering, and football were selected as the statistical sample. The data was collected through in-person interviews with the participants. To meet the entry requirements, men and women over the age of 55 with a history of engaging in at least two hours of weekly activity in one of the sports related to this research for a year prior to participating in the study were included. Exclusion criteria for research participants included a history of chronic cardiovascular disease and the use of cardiac medications, a history of mental illness requiring hospitalization or drug therapy, as well as any injuries or brain damage. After participants provided informed consent to participate in the study, a self-declaration form was used to assess their sports participation history, including the duration and category of their activities.
Findings
In this study, the relationship between participants' history of sports participation and their quality of life was examined, revealing a significant correlation. Additionally, the connection between sports activity history and memory was explored, and a significant link was found. Furthermore, an investigation into the relationship between quality of life and memory also demonstrated a significant association. This study separately examined the ability of a history of sports participation to predict two variables: quality of life and memory. It was found that the history of sports participation has a significant capacity to predict both variables. Therefore, a history of sports participation can serve as a predictor for both quality of life and memory. Additionally, the study demonstrated that quality of life can predict memory, meaning that it is possible to forecast memory status based on the quality of life. The validity and reliability of the model were assessed by comparing the variance extracted from the constructs with the criterion established by Fornell and Larcker (1996) and Magner et al. (1981). Additionally, composite reliability (Dillon-Goldstein coefficient) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were compared with the established criterion, and both were found to be acceptable. Therefore, the convergent validity and reliability of the model are considered satisfactory. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that the model, which explores the mediating role of quality of life in the causal relationship between the history of sports participation and memory, is adequate.
Conclusion
In our investigation, participants' memories for all types of sports were found to be identical. This suggests that physical activity, regardless of the type of sport, has a significant effect on working memory in older adults. The effects of physical activity on working memory are influenced by various factors, including the intensity, type, duration, and frequency of exercise, as well as cognitive status and whether an individual is active or inactive. Given the wide range of movement and sports activities, which vary in form, cognitive demands, and their effects on physiological and neurocognitive functions, it is possible to categorize sports based on their impact on the cognitive health of older adults. This categorization helps health professionals better understand the relationship between exercise and quality of life, enabling the implementation of targeted health interventions aimed at improving the quality of life for the elderly.
Authors’ Contributions
All authors have equally participated in designing, implementing and writing all parts of the present study.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
کلیدواژه‌ها [English]
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-510
https://doi.org/10.32598/sija.13.special-issue.518
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