Journal of Physical Education and Sport ® (JPES), Vol 20 (Supplement issue 4), Art 316 pp 2342 – 2348, 2020 online ISSN: 2247 - 806X; p-ISSN: 2247 – 8051; ISSN - L = 2247 - 8051 © JPES 2342--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Corresponding Author: MARIANNA LIPAROTI, E-mail: marianna.liparoti@uniparthenope.it Original Article The role of physical activity and diet in preventing cognitive decline MARIANNA LIPAROTI 1 , GIUSEPPE MADONNA 2 , ROBERTA MININO 3 1,2,3 Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Naples, ITALY Published online: August 31, 2020 (Accepted for publication: August 22, 2020) DOI:10.7752/jpes.2020.s4316 Abstract: In old age there is a growing incidence of cognitive deficits. Several risk factors (intrinsic and extrinsic) can affects the brain health status of elderly people. In particular, physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour and metabolic disorders related to unhealthy nutrition, could contribute to the worsening of cognitive status. Unfortunately, drug treatments have not been successful in preventing or treating cognitive decline in the elderly.Non-pharmacological but ecological strategies are needed to reduce age-related physical decline and reduce disease-related cognitive impairment in the elderly. Exercise and diet are two protective mechanisms that may reduce the cognitive decline attributed to the normal aging process and protect against changes related to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Changes in favour of a more active lifestyle and dietary changes can potentially improve risk factors for cognitive decline. In fact, both a healthy diet and physical activity contribute to the improvement of the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system as well as counteracting oxidative stress and reducing inflammation processes. The purpose of this study was to summarize the scientific evidence relating to the role of exercise and diet in neuroprotection and the biological mechanisms that contribute to brain health and improve the quality of life of elderly. These data are needed before more definitive conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of these lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Furthermore we wanted to extrapolate recommendations regarding the most appropriate types of physical activity and diet to maintain brain health, in an effort to help clinicians and health operators to promote healthier lifestyles. Key Words: Sport activity – Exercise – Sport nutrition – Nutrition – Diet– Cognitive impairment Introduction Cognitive decline play a crucial role in daily functioning of older adult and it is a serious global public health problem in rapidly growing. Epidemiological data, released by the WHO, have reported that the total number of people with cognitive dysfunctions is expected to reach 82 million in 2030 and 152 million in 2050(Organization, 2019). In lifespan the human brain, undergoes age-related atrophy phenomena of the frontal, parietal and temporal regions (Jernigan et al., 2001). Unfortunately, these brain changes affect the cognitive abilities, causing the decline of memory and executive functions, the inability to perform tasks simultaneously that require a change of attention, difficulties in daily life activities, slower response times, reduction of information processing speed and reduction of inhibitory control (Glisky, 2007). Cognitive decline is due to the combination of intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors (Organization, 2019). Intrinsic risk factors are related to the subject’s characteristics, which include immutable biological features such as age, gender, race and genetic factors. Instead the modifiable risk factors mainly concerned people’s lifestyle and include the physical inactivity or unhealthy diet. Clinical and epidemiological data strongly suggest that poor dietary practices and insufficient levels of exercise, lifestyles typical of our modern society, increase the riskto develop cognitive deficits and many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD)(Fratiglioni, Paillard-Borg, & Winblad, 2004). Unfortunately, drug treatments have not been successful in preventing or treating cognitive decline in older adult, this highlights the need to use non-pharmaceutical approaches such as physical activity (PA) and healthy nutrition, to predict and prevent any risk factors or delay the manifestation of cognitive symptoms related to AD. Metabolic chronic diseases are closely related to cognitive disorders, significantly contributing to arterial obstruction through atherosclerosis processes, and thus favoring ischemic brain damage. In recent decades, many researchers have focused their attention on the mechanisms underlying cognitive decline, highlighting the close relationship between neurodegeneration and nutrition. They suggested that since nutritional factors can influence brain health by acting on both metabolic and vascular risk factors, as well as inflammation and oxidative stress, it is clear that there is a link between nutrition and cognitive impairment. Pathological processes leading to