The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of long exercise on the target aiming function (TAF), that is the function of concentration maintenance, as an indicator of the activity level of the cerebral cortex and on the Profile of Mood States (POMS) in healthy elderly. Forty-six subjects were divided into three groups: a long exercise (LE) group of 21 subjects (mean age: 66 years) ; an exercise (E) group of 12 subjects (mean age: 69 years) ; and a non-exercise (NE) group of 13 subjects (mean age: 70 years). The following parameters were assessed: TAF, POMS and, in the urine, 8- hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), acrolein (ACR) (indicators of oxidative stress), adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine. The mean TAF-L values, indicating the function of concentration maintenance, were higher (p<0.0001) in the LE and E groups than in the NE group. Conversely, the mean TAF-D values, indicating deviation levels, were significantly lower (p<0.01) in the LE and E groups than in the NE group. TMD, that is the scored totals in the POMS test, and the scores of "Confusion" factor were lower (p<0.05) in the LE and E groups than in the NE group. However, there were no significant differences in either 8-OHdG, ACR, adrenaline, noradrenaline, or dopamine values among these three groups. These results suggest that exercise can increase the function of concentration maintenance in cerebral cortex activities and the Profile of Mood States of healthy elderly.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.24/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE