Physical exercise appears to have important and beneficial effects on depression in the elderly, according to a new study published in the journal. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte..
Depressive disorder is a serious health problem in the elderly. Depression consists of feelings of loneliness, helplessness, worthlessness, and sometimes leads to suicide. Studies have shown that traditional treatments such as psychotherapy are less effective in treating depression in the elderly due to the unique physiological and psychological characteristics of the elderly. Linyan Dang, a researcher at Henan University of Finance in China, was interested in studying the effects of exercise on depression in the elderly.
Dan recruited 145 men and 125 women over the age of 60 to complete a physical exercise scale and a brief depression scale survey for seniors and Brinks seniors. The results of this study show that most participants showed a positive attitude towards exercise. About 25% of participants were classified as depressed, of which 6% were severely depressed.
The data show that there is a negative correlation between marriage status and health status and depression, with those with poorer marriage status and health status being more depressed. Data analysis showed lower depression scores among participants with a more aggressive exercise attitude, moderately strenuous exercise, more frequent exercise, and better post-exercise experience.
For example, older people who reported 3-4 exercises a week were more depressed than those who exercised 5-7 times a week. In addition, depression scores were lower in individuals who exercised with their partners compared to alone. The study also shows that women were slightly more depressed than men.
Dan argues that physical activity in the elderly cannot be ignored when it comes to depression, as physical exercise appears to relieve the symptoms of depression more than other treatments. She also argues that older people should maintain a positive attitude towards exercise and incorporate it into their daily lives. Including exercise in daily life may help prevent depression in the elderly, but further research is needed.
The study “Gymnastics to Relieve Current Depression” was published on November 29, 2021.
