Key result
Moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise intervention significantly reduced depressive symptoms in older adults compared to sedentary control (SMD 0.64; 95% CI 0.27-1.01; P<.001).
Why the study?
The study was conducted to quantify the association between physical exercise intervention and reduction in depressive symptoms in older adults.
Does supervised, moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise intervention reduce depressive symptoms in older adults aged ≥ 60 years?
Meta-Analysis (n=1,308)
Does supervised, moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise intervention reduce depressive symptoms in older adults aged ≥ 60 years?
Supervised moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise provides a moderate reduction in depressive symptoms among older adults, though evidence is limited by high heterogeneity and risk of bias.
Supports prescribing moderate-to-vigorous exercise for depressive symptoms in older adults; confirms efficacy in Level 1 meta-analysis of interventions.
OBJECTIVE: To quantify the association between physical exercise intervention (PEI) and reduction in depressive symptoms in older adults. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EMBASE were searched from inception through December 2018 with no language restrictions using keywords related to exercise, depression, elderly adults, and randomized controlled trials. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials comparing a sedentary control group, with no physically active intervention, to a supervised, moderate-to-vigorous PEI with participants aged ≥ 60 years and having a primary outcome of depressive symptoms were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Data on pre- and post-intervention scores on scales measuring depressive symptoms were extracted using a standard form. Random-effects models were used to pool standardized mean differences (Hedges g) in depressive symptoms across studies. DATA SYNTHESIS: Nine studies involving 1,308 participants were included; mean participant age was 82 years. Moderate-to-vigorous PEI was associated with a medium effect size of 0.64 (95% CI, 0.27 to 1.01; z = 3.38; P < .001) in reducing depressive symptoms. However, there was considerable heterogeneity (T² = 0.22, Q = 36.34, P < .0001; I² = 78.0%) in the effect of PEI across included studies. Age > 80 years, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score < 23, and no depressive symptoms at baseline contributed to heterogeneity. Fitness metrics and adherence to exercise were inconsistently reported, and 5 of 9 studies were deemed at high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: A moderate reduction in depressive symptoms was seen with PEI among older adults. Nevertheless, more work is needed to support PEI for late-life depression in adults over age 80 years or with MMSE scores < 23 suggestive of cognitive decline.
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Klil‐Drori et al. (2020) conducted a meta-analysis in Late-life depression (n=1,308). Supervised, moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise intervention (PEI) vs. Sedentary control group with no physically active intervention was evaluated on Reduction in depressive symptoms (SMD 0.64, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.01, p=< .001). Moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise intervention significantly reduced depressive symptoms in older adults compared to sedentary control (SMD 0.64; 95% CI 0.27-1.01; P<.001).
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