Abstract
Depression is the most prevalent mental health problem among older adults. Exercise has been found to have a protective and treatable effect on depression in this population. A systematic review of literature published between 2006 and 2015 was performed to examine the influence of exercise interventions in reducing depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults in the United States. Ten studies were identified for inclusion. Exercise interventions have positive effects on clinical depression and depressive symptoms among older adults. In addition, exercise interventions alleviated the depressive symptoms among older adults with a diagnosis of chronic disease. Future studies should include a randomized controlled trial with a larger sample, longitudinal design, and culturally sensitive intervention. For long-term benefits, incorporating motivational strategies into community exercise programs and collaborating with community health care providers are recommended to enhance the maintenance of exercise behavior among community-dwelling older adults. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44(3), 31–38.]
- Akincigil A., Olfson M., Siegel M., Zurlo K.A., Walkup J.T., Crystal S. (2011). Racial and ethnic disparities in depression care in community-dwelling elderly in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 102, 319–328.
10.2105/AJPH.2011.300349 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Ayuso-Mateos J.L., Nuevo R., Verdes E., Naidoo N., Chatterji S. (2010). From depressive symptoms to depressive disorders: The relevance of thresholds. British Journal of Psychiatry, 196, 365–371.
10.1192/bjp.bp.109.071191 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Banez C., Tully S., Amaral L., Kwan D., Kung A., Mak K., Alibhai S.M. (2008). Development, implementation, and evaluation of an interprofessional falls prevention program for older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 56, 1549–1555.
10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01790.x > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Blake H., Mo P., Malik S., Thomas S. (2009). How effective are physical activity interventions for alleviating depressive symptoms in older people? A systematic review. Clinical Rehabilitation, 23, 873–887.
10.1177/0269215509337449 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Bonura K.B., Tenenbaum G. (2014). Effects of yoga on psychological health in older adults. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 11, 1334–1341.
10.1123/jpah.2012-0365 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Caspersen C.J., Powell K.E., Christenson G.M. (1985). Physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness: Definitions and distinctions for health-related research. Public Health Reports, 100, 126–131. > MedlineGoogle Scholar
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). The state of mental health and aging in American. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/aging/help/dph-aging/mental-health.html > Google Scholar
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Depression is not a normal part of growing older. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/aging/mentalhealth/depression.htm > Google Scholar
- Chao Y.Y., Scherer Y.K., Wu Y.W., Lucke K.T., Montgomery C.A. (2013). The feasibility of an intervention combining self-efficacy theory and Wii Fit exergames in assisted living residents: A pilot study. Geriatric Nursing, 34, 377–382.
10.1016/j.gerinurse.2013.05.006 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Chi I., Jordan-Marsh M., Guo M., Xie B., Bai Z. (2013). Tai chi and reduction of depressive symptoms for older adults: A meta-analysis of randomized trials. Geriatrics and Gerontology International, 13, 3–12.
10.1111/j.1447-0594.2012.00882.x > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Conn V.S. (2010). Depressive symptom outcomes of physical activity interventions: Meta-analysis findings. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 39, 128–138.
10.1007/s12160-010-9172-x > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Conner K.O., Copeland V.C., Grote N.K., Koeske G., Rosen D., Reynolds C.F., Brown C. (2010). Mental health treatment seeking among older adults with depression: The impact of stigma and race. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18, 531–543.
10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181cc0366 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Coughlin S.S., Smith S.A. (2016). A review of community-based participatory research studies to promote physical activity among African Americans. Georgia Public Health Association, 5, 220–227. > MedlineGoogle Scholar
- Daley A.J. (2002). Exercise therapy and mental health in clinical populations: Is exercise therapy a worthwhile intervention?Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 8, 262–270.
10.1192/apt.8.4.262 > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Dantzer R., O'Connor J.C., Freund G.G., Johnson R.W., Kelley K.W. (2008). From inflammation to sickness and depression: When the immune system subjugates the brain. Nature Reviews: Neuroscience, 9, 46–56.
10.1038/nrn2297 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Dowlati Y., Herrmann N., Swardfager W., Liu H., Sham L., Reim E.K., Lanctôt K.L. (2010). A meta-analysis of cytokines in major depression. Biological Psychiatry, 67, 446–457.
10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.09.033 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Eckstrom E., Neal M.B., Cotrell V., Casey C.M., McKenzie G., Morgove M.W., Lasater K. (2016). An interprofessional approach to reducing the risk of falls through enhanced collaborative practice. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 64, 1701–1707.
10.1111/jgs.14178 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Eyigor S., Karapolat H., Durmaz B., Ibisoglu U., Cakir S. (2009). A randomized controlled trial of Turkish folklore dance on the physical performance, balance, depression and quality of life in older women. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 48, 84–88.
10.1016/j.archger.2007.10.008 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Farris G., Sircar M., Bortinger J., Moore A., Krupp J.E., Marshall J., Mattison M. (2017). Extension for community healthcare outcomes-care transitions: Enhancing geriatric care transitions through a multidisciplinary videoconference. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 65, 598–602.
10.1111/jgs.14690 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Fiske A., Wetherell J.L., Gatz M. (2009). Depression in older adults. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 5, 363–389.
10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.032408.153621 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Givens J.L., Houston T.K., Van Voorhees B.W., Ford D.E., Cooper L.A. (2007). Ethnicity and preferences for depression treatment. General Hospital Psychiatry, 29, 182–191.
10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2006.11.002 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Hooks R., Roberts J. (2007). Older peoples' personal care needs: An analysis of care provision: Care provision and the roles of key healthcare personnel. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 2, 263–269.
10.1111/j.1748-3743.2007.00083.x > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Howren M.B., Lamkin D.M., Suls J. (2009). Associations of depression with C-reactive protein, IL-1, and IL-6: A meta-analysis. Psychosomatic Medicine, 71, 171–186.
10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181907c1b > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Kandula N.R., Kersey M., Lurie N. (2004). Assuring the health of immigrants: What the leading health indicators tell us. Annual Review of Public Health, 25, 357–376.
10.1146/annurev.publhealth.25.101802.123107 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Katigbak C., Foley M., Robert L., Hutchinson M.K. (2016). Experiences and lessons learned in using community-based participa-tory research to recruit Asian American immigrant research participants. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 48, 210–218.
10.1111/jnu.12194 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Knapen J., Vancampfort D., Moriën Y., Marchal Y. (2015). Exercise therapy improves both mental and physical health in patients with major depression. Disability and Rehabilitation, 37, 1490–1495.
10.3109/09638288.2014.972579 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Köhler O., Benros M.E., Nordentoft M., Farkouh M.E., Iyengar R.L., Mors O., Krogh J. (2014). Effect of anti-inflammatory treatment on depression, depressive symptoms, and adverse effects: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. JAMA Psychiatry, 71, 1381–1391.
10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.1611 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Kohut M.L., McCann D.A., Russell D.W., Konopka D.N., Cunnick J.E., Franke W.D., Vanderah E. (2006). Aerobic exercise, but not flexibility/resistance exercise, reduces serum IL-18, CRP, and IL-6 independent of beta-blockers, BMI, and psychosocial factors in older adults. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 20, 201–209.
10.1016/j.bbi.2005.12.002 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Konak H.E., Kibar S., Ergin E.S. (2016). The effect of single-task and dual-task balance exercise programs on balance performance in adults with osteoporosis: A randomized controlled preliminary trial. Osteoporosis International, 27, 3271–3278.
10.1007/s00198-016-3644-1 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Kramer E.J., Kwong K., Lee E., Chung H. (2002). Cultural factors influencing the mental health of Asian Americans. Western Journal of Medicine, 176, 227–231. > MedlineGoogle Scholar
- Lavretsky H., Alstein L.L., Olmstead R.E., Ercoli L.M., Riparetti-Brown M., Cyr N.S., Irwin M.R. (2011). Complementary use of tai chi chih augments escitalopram treatment of geriatric depression: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19, 839–850.
10.1097/JGP.0b013e31820ee9ef > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Matta Mello Portugal E., Cevada T., Sobral Monteiro-Junior R., Teixeira Guimarães T., da Cruz Rubini E., Lattari E., Camaz Deslandes A. (2013). Neuroscience of exercise: From neurobiology mechanisms to mental health. Neuropsychobiology, 68, 1–14.
10.1159/000350946 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - McCaffrey R., Liehr P., Gregersen T., Nishioka R. (2011). Garden walking and art therapy for depression in older adults. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 4, 237–242.
10.3928/19404921-20110201-01 > LinkGoogle Scholar - Moher D., Liberati A., Tetzlaff J., Altman D.G. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6(7), e1000097.
10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Muller A.M., Khoo S., Morris T. (2016). Text messaging for exercise promotion in older adults from an upper-middle-income country: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 18(1), e5.
10.2196/jmir.5235 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Musanti R., Murley B. (2016). Community-based exercise programs for cancer survivors. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 20, S25–S30.
10.1188/16.CJON.S2.25-30 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Napoli N., Shah K., Waters D.L., Sinacore D.R., Qualls C., Villareal D.T. (2014). Effect of weight loss, exercise, or both on cognition and quality of life in obese older adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 100, 189–198.
10.3945/ajcn.113.082883 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - National Institute on Aging. (2016). Exercise and physical activity. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/exercise-physical-activity/introduction > Google Scholar
- National Institutes of Health. (2014). Quality assessment of controlled intervention studies. Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-pro/guidelines/in-develop/cardiovascular-risk-reduction/tools/rct > Google Scholar
- Park J., McCaffrey R., Newman D., Cheung C., Hagen D. (2014). The effect of Sit ‘n’ Fit chair yoga among community-dwelling older adults with osteoarthritis. Holistic Nursing Practice, 28, 247–257.
10.1097/HNP.0000000000000034 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Payne J.K., Held J., Thorpe J., Shaw H. (2008). Effect of exercise on biomarkers, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depressive symptoms in older women with breast cancer receiving hormonal therapy. Oncology Nursing Forum, 35, 635–642.
10.1188/08.ONF.635-642 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Pinto B.M., Dunsiger S.I., Farrell N., Marcus B.H., Todaro J.F. (2013). Psychosocial outcomes of an exercise maintenance intervention after phase II cardiac rehabilitation. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, 33, 91–98.
10.1097/HCR.0b013e3182825531 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Pope L., Harvey-Berino J., Savage P., Bunn J., Ludlow M., Oldridge N., Ades P. (2011). The impact of high-calorie-expenditure exercise on quality of life in older adults with coronary heart disease. Journal of Aging & Physical Activity, 19, 99–116.
10.1123/japa.19.2.99 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Redwine L.S., Tsuang M., Rusiewicz A., Pandzic I., Cammarata S., Rutledge T., Mills P.J. (2012). A pilot study exploring the effects of a 12-week t'ai chi intervention on somatic symptoms of depression in patients with heart failure. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18, 744–748.
10.1089/acm.2011.0314 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Resnick B., Luisi D., Vogel A. (2008). Testing the Senior Exercise Self-efficacy Project (SESEP) for use with urban dwelling minority older adults. Public Health Nursing, 25, 221–234.
10.1111/j.1525-1446.2008.00699.x > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Sjösten N., Kivelä S.-L. (2006). The effects of physical exercise on depressive symptoms among the aged: A systematic review. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 21, 410–418.
10.1002/gps.1494 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Sue S., Cheng J.K.Y., Saad C.S., Chu J.P. (2012). Asian American mental health: A call to action. American Psychologist, 67, 532–544.
10.1037/a0028900 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Tomasino K.N., Lattie E.G., Ho J., Palac H.L., Kaiser S.M., Mohr D.C. (2017). Harnessing peer support in an online intervention for older adults with depression. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25, 1109–1119.
10.1016/j.jagp.2017.04.015 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Unützer J. (2002). Diagnosis and treatment of older adults with depression in primary care. Biological Psychiatry, 52, 285–292.
10.1016/S0006-3223(02)01338-0 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Ursua R.A., Aguilar D.E., Wyatt L.C., Katigbak C., Islam N.S., Tandon S.D., Trinh-Shevrin C. (2014). A community health worker intervention to improve management of hypertension among Filipino Americans in New York and New Jersey: A pilot study. Ethnicity & Disease, 24, 67–76. > MedlineGoogle Scholar
- Volkers A.C., Nuyen J., Verhaak P.F., Schel-levis F.G. (2004). The problem of diagnosing major depression in elderly primary care patients. Journal of Affective Disorders, 82, 259–263.
10.1016/j.jad.2003.11.003 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Wang C., Bannuru R., Ramel J., Kupelnick B., Scott T., Schmid C.H. (2010). Tai chi on psychological well-being: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 10, 1–16.
10.1186/1472-6882-10-23 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Wang F., Lee E.-K.O., Wu T., Benson H., Fricchione G., Wang W., Yeung A.S. (2014). The effects of tai chi on depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 21, 605–617.
10.1007/s12529-013-9351-9 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Wassink-Vossen S., Collard R.M., Oude Voshaar R.C., Comijs H.C., de Vocht H.M., Naarding P. (2014). Physical (in)activity and depression in older people. Journal of Affective Disorders, 161, 65–72.
10.1016/j.jad.2014.03.001 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Yoon J.E., Lee S.M., Lim H.S., Kim T.H., Jeon J.K., Mun M.H. (2013). The effects of cognitive activity combined with active extremity exercise on balance, walking activity, memory level and quality of life of an older adult sample with dementia. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 25, 1601–1604.
10.1589/jpts.25.1601 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar