Influence of diabetes and physical exercise, mental and recreational activities practice on the cognitive function and emotionality in aging groups

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the influence of participation in third age groups (TAG), involving the practice of physical exercise and cognitive and recreational activities, on cognitive function and emotional issues such as anxiety and depression in diabetic and non-diabetic elderly patients. METHODS: In this cross sectional study, participated 158 older adults divided into four groups: (1) elderly non-participants in TAG and non-diabetic; (2) elderly non-participants in TAG and diabetic; (3) elderly participants in TAG and non-diabetic; and (4) elderly participants in TAG and diabetic. All of them were submitted to a protocol of cognitive assessment (Mini-Mental State-MMSE, Immediate and Delayed Recall Test Free Words - RIP and RTP, and Recognition of Famous Faces Test-FF), anxiety (STAI) and depression (Geriatric Depression Scale-EGD). For comparison between groups, we used one-way ANOVA for parametric data and the Kruskal-Wallis test for non-parametric data. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 72.63±6.84 years old (75% women and 25% men). The results demonstrate that the elderly group 2 (diabetic and non-participants EG) have lower cognitive scores than group 3 (non-diabetic participants and EG) (p=0.012 in MMSE, p=0.028 in the IWR, p=0.011 in GDS). CONCLUSION: It can be argued that the association between diabetes mellitus and less active lifestyle, without the practice of physical exercise and recreational and cognitive activities, possibly represents a risk factor for the acceleration of cognitive losses that follow the aging process.