The Effectiveness of Cognitive Load of Task on the Executive Functions of Inactive Elderly Women: Emphasis on environmental variability

Although reducing cognitive functions is an inevitable part of aging, performing physical activity and motor coordination skills is effective in improving their neurological functions. Considering the importance of the effective of tasks with different processing needs on cognitive functions, the aim of study was to compare the effectiveness of open and closed skills exercise on the executive functions of inactive elderly women.

this research was semi-experimental with pre-test and post-test design. 30 inactive elderly women were randomly assigned to two groups of open and closed skills exercise. Participants in both groups performed their own exercise program for 12 weeks and 3 sessions per week. All subjects then participated in executive function tests of Nback working memory, Wisconsin Card Sorting and stroop.

The results showed a significant difference between open skills exercise compared closed skills exercise on working memory (P = 0.001), cognitive flexibility (P = 0.025) and response inhibition (P = 0/002).

The results of the present study showed that 12 weeks of open skills exercise compared closed skills exercise has a more effect on increasing executive functions of inactive elderly women. Therefore, in order to improve their executive functions, it is recommended that inactive older women participate in sports such as table tennis, which have a high cognitive load.