ABSTRACT
Introduction: Alzheimer's disease [AD] is a chronic condition characterized by gradual decline of mental abilities and behavioral disorders, which decreases the quality of life in elderly people. The aim of this study was to evaluate behaviors that may prevent elderly people from AD in Yazd
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 220 people aged from 60 to 70 years in Yazd. Cluster random sampling method was used for selecting the participants. Data collection instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire that included demographic information and questions on AD preventive behaviors [physical activity, mental activity, nutrition, and social interaction]. The score range of each part and the overall behavior score was from zero to 100. Data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software and application of descriptive and inferential statistical methods
Results: The mean score of preventive behaviors was 44.6. The highest mean score [56.48] was for nutrition while the lowest mean score [32.03] was for mental activity. Only 15 % of the studied elderly consumed fruit regularly in their diet, which was followed by consumption of vegetable, 11.4 % and fish 9.1 %. There was a significant positive correlation between education level and behavior score [p < 0.001]. However, there was no statistically significant gender difference [p > 0.05] in mean scores of the overall behavior and scores of married older adults compared to those of divorced or single, had a statistically significant difference [p = 0.007]
Conclusion: The overall AD preventive behaviors in elderly are undesirable, remarkably as noted in physical and mental domains. The majority of participants did not regularly have fruits, vegetables, and fish in their daily and weekly diets. Numerous socio-demographic factors affect these behaviors. More studies are required to identify barriers of healthy behaviors
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The prevalence of chronic diseases increases with age. Increased production of reactive oxygen species involves in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetic vascular complications, and heart failure. The present study aimed to explore the effects of resistance training on plasma hydrogen peroxide [H2O2] level of ageing women
Methods: Twenty-four postmenopausal women [mean age = 67.37 +/- 6.02, height = 153.02 +/- 8.12, weight = 65.78 +/- 12.03, body mass index = 26.87 +/- 4.16, body fat percent = 18.61 +/- 3.65, and waist-to-hip ratio [WHR] = 0.92 +/- 0.4] were purposefully chosen and randomly divided into control and experimental groups each consisted of 12 subjects. Experimental group did resistance training for eight weeks as follows: three sessions per week with 40% to 65% intensity of a maximum repetition and 5% overload after each 6 sessions. Before and after 8 weeks of training, resting levels of H2O2 was measured and recorded. Data were analyzed by paired- samples t-test
Results: A statistically significant decrease observed in plasma H2O2 level [p = 0.041] and also weight [p = 0.048], body fat percent [p = 0.001], WHR [p = 0.037], resting- heart- rate [p = 0.021], systolic blood pressure [p = 0.006] and diastolic blood pressure [p = 0.002] of participants in experimental group but there were not any statistically different in any of the variables, pre and post-test in control group
Conclusion: Resistance training may be used as an intervention program for cardiovascular risk factors reduction