With the increasing risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases in older adults in the U.S., alternative methods of preventing further cognitive decline have become a topic of interest. Exergaming, a form of exercise that combines physical exercise with mental stimulation, has been shown to improve the cognitive function of older adults. However, the methods of analyzing the specific cognitive benefits of exergames and their further implications have been widely varied. This review examines the different methods used in research studies that analyze the effects of exergaming on cognitive function in older adults and discusses future implications in preventing cognitive decline.
Depression is typically treated with psychotherapy and/or medication, but research has also pointed to the efficacy of exercise therapy in supplementing psychotherapy. One novel exercise therapy is therapeutic climbing, in which a group of participants engages in both rock climbing and non-climbing activities such as a reflection or mindfulness activity under therapist guidance. This review will explore the current state of research on therapeutic climbing.
Only two years ago, the gravity-defying sport of climbing made its Olympic debut. Featuring iron-hardened athletes and impossible acrobatics, climbing might seem far from a therapeutic experience. However, some scientists from the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) see things differently.
