Copyright @ 200 by the American College of Sports Medicine. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. 7 The Impact of Resistance Exercise on the Cognitive Function of the Elderly RICARDO C. CASSILHAS 1,2 , VALTER A. R. VIANA 1,2 , VIVIANE GRASSMANN 1,2 , RONALDO T. SANTOS 1,2,4 , RUTH F. SANTOS 3 , SE ´ RGIO TUFIK 1,3 , and MARCO T. MELLO 1,2 1 Department of Psychobiology, 2 Center for Psychobiology and Exercise Studies (CEPE), 3 Psychopharmacology Research Support Association (AFIP), and 4 Department of Health Science, Universidade Federal de Sa ˜o Paulo, Sa ˜o Paulo, BRAZIL ABSTRACT CASSILHAS, R. C., V. A. R. VIANA, V. GRASSMANN, R. T. SANTOS, R. F. SANTOS, S. TUFIK, and M. T. MELLO.The Impact of Resistance Exercise on the Cognitive Function of the Elderly. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 39, No. 8, pp. 1401–1407, 2007. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of 24 wk of resistance training at two different intensities on cognitive functions in the elderly. Methods: Sixty-two elderly individuals were randomly assigned to three groups: CONTROL (N = 23), experimental moderate (EMODERATE; N = 19), and experimental high (EHIGH; N = 20). The volunteers were assessed on physical, hemodynamic, cognitive, and mood parameters before and after the program. Results: On the 1 RM test (P G 0.001), the two experimental groups performed better than the CONTROL group, but they did not show differences between themselves. The EHIGH group gained more lean mass (P = 0.05) than the CONTROL group and performed better on the following tests: digit span forward (P G 0.001), Corsi_s block-tapping task backward (P = 0.001), similarities (P = 0.03), Rey–Osterrieth complex figure immediate recall (P = 0.02), Toulouse–Pieron concentration test errors (P = 0.01), SF-36 (general health) (P = 0.04), POMS (tension–anxiety, P = 0.04; depression–dejection, P = 0.03; and total mood disorder, P = 0.03). The EMODERATE group scored higher means than the CONTROL group on digit span forward (P G 0.001), Corsi_s block-tapping task backward (P = 0.01), similarities (P = 0.02), Rey– Osterrieth complex figure immediate recall (P = 0.02), SF-36 (general health, P = 0.005; vitality, P = 0.006), POMS (tension–anxiety, P = 0.001; depression–dejection, P = 0.006; anger–hostility, P = 0.006; fatigue–inertia, P = 0.02; confusion–bewilderment, P = 0.02; and total mood disorder, P = 0.001). We also found that IGF-1 serum levels were higher in the experimental groups (EMODERATE, P = 0.02; EHIGH, P G 0.001). Conclusions: Moderate- and high-intensity resistance exercise programs had equally beneficial effects on cognitive functioning. Key Words: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, COGNITION, AGING, OLDER, IGF-1, MOOD A ging is a dynamic and progressive process in which morphological, functional, hemodynamic, and psy- chological changes reduce the individual_s ability to adapt to the environment, thus heightening vulnerability to the onset of pathological processes, with muscle mass and strength and eventually diminishing (23). Similarly, the central nervous system (CNS) and, there- fore, cognitive functioning undergoes changes as people grow older. Colcombe et al. (4) reported neuronal loss starting in the third decade of life with a resulting decline in cognitive performance. Additionally, certain cognitive functions seem to be more susceptible to senescence, such as attention, short and long-term memory, and central executive functions (29). These findings are in line with the Kramer and Willis (15) finding that performance tends to decline in relation to processes according to fluid abilities, such as tasks that are learned but not executed. Many researchers have emphasized the role of physical exercise in retarding or minimizing certain aspects of aging, because it diminishes risk for various chronic diseases and reduces anxiety and depression in the elderly (1). Studies have shown improved cognitive functions in seniors on an aerobic training program (11). However, little is known about the effects of resistance training on these parameters. Studies have shown that resistance training increases muscular mass and strength in seniors (8) and may also have a positive influence on cognitive performance (19,20). Different protocols have been used to show the beneficial effect of resistance training on cognitive function. Perrig- Chiello et al. (20) carried out an 8-wk intervention with resistance exercise once a week. Intensity was based on a 15- to 25-repetition maximum (RM) for the trunk muscles and a 12–15 RM for the other muscles. Ozkaya et al. (19) used a different method in relation to the training prescrip- tion, but the intervention period was similar (9 wk). They started with intensity at 60% for 1 RM and finished with intensity equivalent to 80% of 1 RM. McDermott and Address for correspondence: Marco Tu ´ lio de Mello, Ph.D., Universidade Federal de Sa ˜o Paulo, Departamento de Psicobiologia, Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e Exercı ´cio, Rua Marselhesa, 535, Sa ˜o Paulo, SP, Brazil 04020-060; E-mail: tmello@psicobio.epm.br. Submitted for publication October 2006. Accepted for publication March 2007. 0195-9131/07/3908-1401/0 MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE Ò Copyright Ó 2007 by the American College of Sports Medicine DOI: 10.1249/mss.0b013e318060111f 1401 APPLIED SCIENCES