Abstract
Relations between physical activity and frontal cortex function in healthy community dwellers over 65 years old were examined using the Yakumo Study database. In Study 1, based on the questionnaire response on physical activity habit in everyday life, the proportion of the population who is making habits of physical activity was investigated. As a result, 60 % of respondents answered that they do not exercise as a whole, even half of respondents who continued participating for more than 3 years stopped exercising in less than 7 years and 7 % continued for 11 years. It has become clear that it is extremely difficult to continue physical activity in everyday life even if they realize that a physical activity is effective for maintaining and improving cognitive function. In Study 2, the relationship between the linear regression coefficients for attention-related cognitive tests after 65-year-old and the presence or absence of continued physical activity habits was examined. As a result, it was revealed that the group continuing for more than 6 years was superior to the group without habit for the decrease in attention performance. Although the physical activity in everyday life is considered effective in preventing frontal lobe function deterioration due to aging, it is not easy to engage and continue it for ordinary community dwellers. A constant and effective external reinforce seems necessary to make physical daily activity as a habit.
