Beneficial Effects of Exercise and Cognitive Training on Cognitive Functions in Older Adults

Cognitive functions decline with age. In elderly people, the decline typically engenders difficulty in performing basic activities of daily living. One purpose of Smart Aging studies is to investigate means for retention and improvement of cognitive functions in elderly people. This chapter introduces a short review of the effects on cognitive functions that have been reported for cognitive and exercise training. The beneficial effects on cognitive functions achieved using our intervention programs (learning therapy, cognitive training with a brain training game, and combined exercise training) are also reported. Finally, we discuss mechanisms underlying cognitive function improvement after intervention.