This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of exercise on balance function in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and identify the optimal exercise prescription for this population. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane, and Scopus up to February 21, 2025. The data were pooled using weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95

Exercise is a potential treatment to improve sleep quality in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Understanding exercise-induced changes in functional plasticity of brain circuits that underlie improvements in sleep among middle-aged and older adults can inform treatment of sleep problems. The aim of the study is to identify the effects of a 12-week exercise program on sleep quality and brain functional connectivity in middle-aged and older adults with insomnia. The trial was registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR2000033652). We recruited 84 healthy sleepers and 85 individuals with insomnia. Participants with insomnia were assigned to receive either a 12-week exercise intervention or were placed in a 12-week waitlist control condition. Thirty-seven middle-aged and older adults in the exercise group and 30 in the waitlist group completed both baseline and week 12 assessments. We found that middle-aged and older adults with insomnia showed significantly worse sleep quality than healthy sleepers. At the brain circuit level, insomnia patients showed decreased connectivity in the widespread motor network. After exercise intervention, self-reported sleep was increased in the exercise group (P < 0.001) compared to that in the waitlist group. We also found increased functional connectivity of the motor network with the cerebellum in the exercise group (P < 0.001). Moreover, we observed significant correlations between improvement in subjective sleep indices and connectivity changes within the motor network. We highlight exercise-induced improvement in sleep quality and functional plasticity of the aging brain.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of weight-bearing running on Nlrp3 inflammasome by observing the changes of related proteins expression of extensor digitorum longus in aged rats after 16-weeks intervention. METHODS: Thirty healthy 8-month-old male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (Group C, n = 15) and a weight-bearing running group (Group R, n = 15). Five rats in each group were taken as the basic value before intervention. Group R was given weight-bearing running intervention, 3 times per week. Animals were weighed, the body compositions were measured, and the morphology of the extensor digitorum longus muscle was observed by the HE staining, the protein expression levels of Nlrp3, Caspase-1, ASC, NF-κB and GSDMD were measured by WB in the extensor digitorum longus muscle after 16 weeks intervention. RESULTS: ① The body weight of Group C (721.9 ± 30.0 g) at 16 weeks was significantly higher than the basic value (624.2 ± 61.6 g) (P < 0.05). The weight of Group R (660.8 ± 113.3 g) was obviously lower than those of Group C. ② The lean body of Group R (400.6 ± 33.1 g) was higher than Group C (381.3 ± 25.4 g) ; The wet/weight ratio of the extensor toenail long muscles in basic value (0.82 ± 0.11‰) was significantly higher than Group C (0.74 ± 0.09 ‰) (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between Group R and basic value. ③ The area of muscle fiber area in group C (1743.13 ± 548.50 μm2) was extremely significantly lower than basic value (3051.78 ± 808.67 μm2), and obviously lower than group R (2191.03 ± 868.49 μm2) (P < 0.01). ④ASC protein expression levels showed an increasing tendency in group C (1.51 ± 0.61), compared with basic value (1.00 ± 0.00). Nlrp3 expression in Group R (0.59 ± 0.13) was significantly lower than Group C (1.00 ± 0.01). NF-κB protein expression levels (0.72 ± 0.04), GSDMD (0.68 ± 0.01) and Caspase-1(0.71 ± 0.12) decreased significantly, compared with Group C (1.01 ± 0.04) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The 16-week weight-bearing running can not only alleviate the weight gain and skeletal muscle atrophy during aging in rats, but also reduce skeletal muscle inflammation by downregulating Nlrp3-related pathway expression. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This study was supported by the fundamental research funds for the Central Universities of China (2021TD012).

PURPOSE: To search some indicators which could predict the physical fitness during exercise stress in middle-aged adults. METHODS: 148 non-manual workers (40-49 years; 90 men and 58 women) without chronic disease were studied. Subjects performed the graded exercise test (GXT) on a cycle ergomater of Custo-med, starting with 25 w and adding 25 w at 2 min intervals until the subject experienced any discomfort or irregularities in which the performance, RPE, ECG, Bp and Vo2 were monitored during the test. At the same time,Relative VO2max also could be measured(VO2max.m). Before GXT, differential ECG (DECG) and EEG were collected in Omegawave Sport Technology System by which RR interval variability (HRV) and Omega Potential(OP) was recorded and the Aerobic Index (AI), HR at anaerobic threshold (HRan) and Relative VO2max were calculated(VO2max.c). RESULTS: 1. Differences of VO2max.m,HRV,VO2max.c,AI,HRan and OP between male and female were shown in the following Table. 2. VO2max.m was correlated positively with VO2max.c in two genders (male: r=0.247,P<0.05;female: r=0.412, P<0.01).The correlationships of VO2max.m between the other indicator originated from the Omegawave Sport Technology System were not significant.Table: Differences of HRV,DECG and OP between male and femaleCONCLUSION: VO2max.c seems to associate with VO2max.m in middle-aged adults.It is suggested that VO2max.c might be a new predictor for physical fitness,especially for aerobic capacity. But the role of other indicators in reflecting physical fitness needs the further investigation. The project funded by The Ministry of Science and Technology of China, NO.2006BAK33B02