Abstract

LOPEZ, Norman et al. Effects of physical exercise on the episodic memory in healthy elderly chileans. liber. [online]. 2015, vol.21, n.1, pp.81-89. ISSN 1729-4827.

Our objective was to analyze the effect of a regular physical activity program on the verbal and visuospatial episodic memory on mentally healthy elderly Chileans. Participated 74 elderly women without cognitive impairment - divided into an intervention group = 34 elderly women, who carried out physical activity for six months; and a control group = 40 sedentary women. We used the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), and the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) for the evaluation of the episodic memory. Analysis were performed inter- and intra-group with t student and d of Cohen to measure the effect size of t-tests. The results showed statistically significant differences in the post-test between the Intervention Group (IG) and Control Group (CG); noticing better yields in the verbal and visual episodic memory of the IG with a large size effect. It is concluded that regular physical activity increases the processing capacity, retention, and evocation of the verbal and visual episodic information in healthy elderly women.

Keywords : Physical exercise; old age; episodic memory; sedentary lifestyle.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )