Objective: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the effects of physical activity (PA) on cognition and activities of daily living in adults with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Methods: Six electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycArticles, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE and CNKI) were used to search for potential studies from inception until October 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of physical activity (PA) on cognition and activities of daily living in AD patients compared to a control condition were included. The effect sizes were synthesized using a random effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Sixteen articles including 945 participants (aged 70 to 88 years, 34.6% male) met the inclusion criteria. The pooled effect sizes demonstrated that PA intervention was associated with significant improvements in global cognition (Standard Mean Difference (SMD) = 0.41, 95% CI [0.24, 0.58], p < 0.01) and activities of daily living (SMD = 0.56, 95% CI [0.32, 0.79], p < 0.01) in AD patients. Subgroup analyses suggested that PA for 3–4 times per week for 30–45 min for more than 12 weeks had a relatively strong effect on improving global cognition in AD patients. The sensitivity analysis showed robust results. Conclusions: The findings from the current meta-analysis suggested that AD patients can improve their global cognition and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) through engaging in aerobic and mixed exercise (aerobic and anaerobic exercise).

Purpose: The present study investigates the associations between food insecurity, physical activity, and sedentary behavior in individuals aged 55 years and older from five low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: The data were provided by 16,454 adults aged 55 and older who participated in the Global Aging and Adult Health Survey. Food insecurity was assessed based on participants’ self-reported questionnaire measures. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, and adherence to the recommended guidelines was categorized accordingly. We used a multivariable logistic regression model to examine the associations between food insecurity, physical activity, and sedentary behavior, adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors. Results: The results revealed that food insecurity was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of meeting physical activity (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.64–0.83) and sedentary behavior recommendations (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.59–0.83). Stratified analysis showed that food insecurity had a stronger impact on these behaviors among females than males. Females with food insecurity were less likely to meet all movement behavior recommendations, highlighting gender-specific challenges. Conclusions: The findings showed that food insecurity was significantly associated with lower adherence to both physical activity and sedentary behavior recommendations among middle-aged and older adults in LMICs. In these settings, females with food insecurity showed more consistent and significant associations than males. Future longitudinal studies should be conducted to systematically examine whether an enhancement of food security causes continuous changes in movement behaviors.

Background: Emerging adulthood is a developmentally unstable period with a high burden of depression and anxiety, yet the association between exercise time and mental health in this population remains insufficiently understood. Objective: The present study aims to investigate the association between exercise time and mental health (depression and anxiety) among emerging adults. Methods: Data from 37,732 emerging adults aged 18 to 29 were drawn from the 2023–2024 Healthy Minds Study. Self-report exercise habits and mental health outcomes (depression and anxiety) were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression with adjustments for covariates. Results: The results indicated significant associations between exercise, depression, and anxiety. Compared to participants who exercised less than 1 h per week, those who exercised ≥1 h per week had progressively lower odds of depressive and anxiety symptoms. The lowest odds were observed among those who exercised ≥5 h per week. These protective effects were evident in both males and females during emerging adulthood. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that incremental exercise is strongly associated with better mental health in emerging adults. Emerging adults who engaged in more exercise had significantly lower risks of depressive (odds ratio [OR] = 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.46, 0.57]; p < 0.001) and anxious (OR = 0.64, 95% CI [0.58, 0.71]; p < 0.001) symptoms. These results highlight the necessity of supporting and promoting exercise as an important component of mental health programs in universities or communities. However, future research should include longitudinal and interventional studies to confirm causality and to determine the most effective approach to integrate physical activity into mental health promotion programs.