Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, understanding factors that influence vaccine efficacy is crucial, particularly in older adults. Regular physical exercise and/or structured physical activity (SPA) has emerged as a potential modulator of immune responses, enhancing vaccine effectiveness. This systematic review aims to consolidate current evidence on the impact of SPA/exercise on both immune and inflammatory responses to COVID-19 vaccination in adults and older individuals. Most relevant studies were extracted from indexed databases using health subject terms in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Studies that examined the impact of regular exercise or SPA on inflammatory and/or immunological responses in relation to COVID-19 immunization were selected. In particular, all chosen studies included individuals who received vaccinations either prior to or following the exercise regimen or SPA, and the main goal was to evaluate these effects on immunological and/or inflammatory reactions induced by vaccination. Among the 7 studies included (n = 1149), the effects of regular exercise or PA on vaccine-induced immune responses while concurrently assessing inflammatory markers were examined. The findings suggest that moderate to high-intensity structured physical activity (50–70% of maximum heart rate for aerobic exercise and 60–80% of 1RM for resistance training), performed 3–5 times per week, was able to enhance immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination, particularly by mitigating chronic low-grade inflammation. Acute exercise can transiently boost immunity, whilst engagement in moderate SPA over a period of six months may contribute to sustained improvements in immune function, especially in older adults. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to variability in study design, sample characteristics, and potential confounding factors. Regular exercise and SPA play a significant role in improving immune/inflammatory responses to COVID-19 vaccination. Older adults, in particular, may benefit from regular SPA and exercise as a strategy to counteract immunosenescence and optimize vaccine efficacy. However, further research is needed to better refine exercise protocols and determine long-term benefits in different populations.

The EISI study protocol aims to address the low participation rate in physical exercise programs among older individuals, emphasizing its significance as a non-pharmacological therapeutic approach for overall health and increased physical activity. The objectives include implementing physical activity (PA) and educational health programs in Jequié, Bahia, Brazil, targeting the Family Health Strategy population to enhance local physical activity levels among older individuals. The study also seeks to evaluate the program's feasibility, safety, and sustainability for large-scale implementation, along with assessing its impact on immune and inflammatory response biomarkers to the SARS-CoV virus, as well as physical-functional and brain health. Participants, aged 60 or above, will be divided into two groups: multicomponent exercise (MCE) and behavioral change interventions (BCI). The study employs a mixed-method approach, utilizing a non-randomized controlled short-term pathway model for a 4-8 weeks of pilot study and 16-week intervention impact assessment. Data collection encompasses various aspects such as sociodemographic information, mental health, physical fitness, fall risk, functional capacity, anthropometric measurements, hemodynamic assessment, habitual physical activity, and health-related quality of life. Blood and saliva samples are collected for cytokine and antibody biomarker analysis related to SARS-CoV immunity. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations for both groups will be conducted, with the hypothesis that MCE will yield more favorable responses compared to BCI. The study's holistic approach, including the assessment of feasibility, safety, and sustainability, aims to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 and SDG 9 b y promoting accessible and sustainable healthcare initiatives for older individuals. This research aligns with global efforts to enhance health and well-being, emphasizing the importance of regular exercise in the aging population.

Negative health behaviors incorporated into lifestyle are considered the main risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adults and the elderly. However, the relationship between the aggregation of these factors and the sociodemographic conditions of the elderly needs to be better elucidated. The aim of this study was to analyze the simultaneity of the five risk factors for NCDs in the elderly with low economic status living in a rural city in Brazil, and their association with sociodemographic variables. Cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly people from Family Health Units of the city of Ibicui-Bahia, Brazil, where 310 elderly were enrolled. Rates of physical inactivity in leisure (PIL), alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, overweight/obesity and tobacco consumption were collected through a questionnaire in an individual interview. The average age among participants was 71.62 (± 8.16) years. The group presenting the five behaviors had high scores in both sexes (men O/E = 242.5; women O/E = 161.7). Among men and women, the highest scores found through clustering of simultaneous NCD risk factors were for the consumption of alcohol with smoking, and physical inactivity with smoking. When analyzing the association between groups and sociodemographic characteristics, men were more physically inactive than women (OR = 0.96, CI = 0.92-0.98) and concomitantly had unhealthy habits (smoking). In conclusion, the elderly are exposed to health risk factors for concurrent CNCDs and the accumulation of these risk factors was not associated with sociodemographic variables, it is suggested that further studies be carried out with the prevalent variables as well as to analyze why the elderly population presents these levels.

O panorama demográfico brasileiro vem apresentando um perfil cada vez mais voltado para a longevidade. Nesse sentido, algumas características sociodemográficas têm se apresentado de forma mais prevalente, quando se analisa o perfil populacional associado ao envelhecimento e à diminuição da função cognitiva. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a associação de aspectos sociodemográficos e a presença de comprometimento cognitivo em idosos residentes em um município do Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, com amostra constituída por 310 idosos cadastrados na Estratégia de Saúde da Família, no município de Ibicuí (Brasil), selecionados aleatoriamente. Foram incluídas as variáveis: sexo, idade, escolaridade e comprometimento cognitivo (Mini-Exame do Estado Mental). Na análise dos dados, foram utilizados procedimentos da estatística descritiva e análise de regressão logística binária, utilizando-se o software STATA, versão 14.0®. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa (CAEE 22969013.0.0000.0055), com base na Resolução 466/2012 do Conselho Nacional de Saúde. A média de idade dos entrevistados foi de 71,62 (±8,16) anos. A maioria dos entrevistados eram mulheres (56,45%), estavam na faixa etária entre 60-79 anos (83,87%) e referiram serem alfabetizados (56,13%). A prevalência global de comprometimento cognitivo foi de 4,19%. Indivíduos longevos (idade ≥ 80 anos) e não alfabetizados apresentaram maiores probabilidades de apresentar essa condição (p<0,05). Os resultados do presente estudo evidenciam a importância em se considerar os aspectos sociodemográficos, como a faixa etária e a escolaridade, como características relevantes de serem avaliadas no idoso, atrelada às suas condições biológicas, para o desenvolvimento de comprometimento cognitivo.

Introduction: Cognitive losses are among the most prevalent events in the elderly population and can cause functional deficits. Among the available non-drug prevention and treatment alternatives, the increase in functional fitness levels is presented as an important strategy suggesting improvements in the physical and cognitive function of the elderly triggered by exercise. Objective: To determine the predictive power of functional fitness indicators and establish their cutoff points as discriminators of cognitive impairment in the elderly. Methods: The sample comprised 310 elderly people who answered a questionnaire comprising sociodemographic information, lifestyle habits, hospitalization in the last 12 months, presence of comorbidity, and the Mini-Mental State Examination. Functional fitness was assessed using the Hand Grip Strength (HGS) and sitting and rising from a chair tests. To identify predictors of cognitive impairment, analysis of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves was adopted, with a confidence interval of 95% (95%CI). Subsequently, the cut-off points with their respective sensitivities and specificities were identified. The analyses were performed respecting the significance level of 5%. Results: It was observed that some functional fitness indicators showed significant Area Under the Curve (AUC), and the sit-and-stand test (AUC=0.72; 95%CI: 0.64-0.77) showed the best results. The best cut-off points for the HGS and sit-and-stand tests were 18,8 kgf and eight repetitions, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the present study allow us to conclude that the sit-to-stand test is moderately efficient in discriminating the presence of cognitive impairment in the elderly. Level of Evidence III; Study Cross-sectional.