the purpose of this study was to investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between different volumes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) and anxiety symptoms and status among older adults in Ireland.

The aim of this study was to examine the association between self-rated physical activity and subjective indicators of both positive and negative mental health in an Irish adult population.

The EUROPEAN VOLUNTEER EVENTS for THERAPY through SPORTS – EVENTS Project - aims to develop strong institutional procedures for the specific contribution of sport and physical exercise to the prevention, the therapy in the field of mental health and the rehabilitation of mental health service users at European level within the overall Active Living context. The project is the practical reflection of the vision of a major European institutional link between the fields of Sport and Mental Health: State Sports Authorities, Federations and Associations, private bodies in the sports sector, National Health Systems, Educational / Research Institutions, Local Government, Private Institutions and Civil Society meet up and join their forces in a movement that promotes an active living, the idea that sport is for everyone, that sport fosters our soul. CORE ACTIVITY The 1st European Sport & Physical Exercise Event for Mental Health is the culmination of the new strategy that highlights the independent and specialized approach of Physical Exercise and Sports as a significant and effective factor for a holistic approach in the field of Mental Health. 34 organizations and 250 individuals who practice sports from 14 countries have already support with their participation the 1st European Sport & Physical Exercise Event for Mental Health, which is co-funded by the European Commission in the framework of Erasmus+ Sport Program, will be held will be held in Athens, Greece, on 21,22 & 23 September 2018. The 1st European Sport & Physical Exercise Event for Mental Health - the milestone of the EVENTS project actions – was set up under the Patronage of the European Parliament President. A reward that provides this particular initiative with a moral acclaim. Implementation of the 3-day event is nothing more than the practical implementation of a message of freedom and the promote of an active living as the foundation of personal development and the development of the society as a whole.

A five-month European Campaign “Life is like a bike” (February-June 2018) held in parallel in 12 European countries, as the main goal of the MENS Project, the European project, which is co-funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus + program. MENS project is implemented with the involvement of 17 organizations, from 12 EU Member States, active in the field of mental health and / or sports and physical exercise. The main objective of the MENS project is the establishment of the European Network of Active Living for Mental Health (ENALMH) highlighting the crucial meaning of the link between Physical Exercise and Sports for the prevention, the treatment and the rehabilitation in the field of Mental Health. The “Life is Like a bike” campaign is based on the results of the European survey among organizations and individuals about their experience and their opinions on the contribution of physical exercise and sport to mental health through specially designed questionnaires for sports organizations, mental health providers (recipients of their services or professionals) and the general population. The survey lasted two months (October-November 2017) and was completed with 2,656 participants from 12 European countries. Based on the survey data, a positive attitude towards the link between “sport / exercise and mental health” arises, but also a lack of motivation and of in-depth knowledge. Therefore, the “Life is Like a Bike” campaign acquires an informative but also encouraging character to provide valid information to those who have not yet adopt the active living, as a resounding confirmation for those who have adopted an active daily routine but also as a further reinforcement of the existing initiatives.

AIMS: Systematically review the applicability (attendance, achieved intensity, adverse events) and effects of physical exercise on physical functions, cognitive functions, and activities of daily living among people with dementia. ADDED VALUE: Teams are composed with people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias living in residential care facilities TARGET GROUP: Older people with Alzheimer disease and other dementias TYPE OF EXERCISE - PERIODICITY: Combined exercise (strength, balance, aerobic, flexibility), 7 studies, 2weeks – 12 months (2-7 times/week, 20-75 minutes ) Walking exercise, 3 studies, 6-16 weeks, 3-5 sessions/week, 30min/session Intensity: In most studies it is reported as light to moderate

AIMS: To estimate the effect of a moderate to high intensity aerobic and strength exercise training programme on cognitive impairment and other outcomes in people with mild to moderate dementia. ADDED VALUE: People with mild to moderate dementia can engage and comply with moderate to high intensity aerobic and strengthening exercise and improve physical fitness. These benefits do not, however, translate into improvements in cognitive impairment, activities in daily living, behaviour, or health related quality of life The exercise programme might possibly have worsened cognitive impairment. TARGET GROUPS: People with mild to moderate dementia living in the community eitheralone or with others.TYPE OF EXERCISE - PERIODICITY: Moderate to high intensity aerobic and strength exercise, for four (4) months, twice a week, 60-90 min/session in gym and one (1) session/week (60') at home.

AIM:The aim of this study was to systematically review the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the effects of physical exercise on cognition in older subjects with MCI or dementia. ADDED VALUE: Τhe effectiveness of exercise interventions in older individuals already suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. TARGET GROUPS: Οlder people with MCI or dementia living in community. TYPE OF EXERCISE-PERIODICITY: The duration varied from 6 weeks to 12 months. Most frequent type of exercise was walking, followed by stength training, ergocycling and Tai Chi. Intensity varied from light to moderate, sessions from 2 to 5/weeks, 30 minutes to 2 hours/session.

AIMS: The main purpose of this systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCT) with pre-planned meta-analysis was to examine the effects of exercise training on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in people with dementia compared with controls.The secondary aims of this study were to investigate the effects of exercise training on mortality and on use of antipsychotics. ADDED VALUE: Managing behavioral and psychological symptoms in institutionalized and living in the community people with dementia. TYPE OF EXERCISE- PERIODICITY: The most common exercise type, performed in13 studies, was a multicomponent training (ie, two or more exercise types grouped together in the same training session). Ten studies had a usual care control group; the other ten studies had anactive-control group (eight of these had a socially-active control group)

AIMS: To examine the effects of aerobic exercise on cognition and other biomarkers associated with Alzheimer disease pathology for older adults with mild cognitive Impairment (MCI), and assess the role of sex as a predictor of response. ADDED VALUE: The role of high intensity aerobic exercise in cognitive function of people with MCI and its effect on AD-related biomarkers in blood including insulin, cortisol, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin like growth factor I (IGF-I), and β-amyloids 40 and 42 (Aβ40 and Aβ42) TARGET GROUP: Middle to old aged people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). TYPE OF EXERCISE-PERIODICITY : Six-month, randomized, controlled, clinical trial. Two randomized groups (exercise and control group). The exercise group followed a high-intensity aerobic exercise program at 75% to 85% of heart rate reserve for 45 to 60 min/d, 4 d/wk. The control group carried out supervised stretching activities with a heart rate at or below 50% of their heart rate reserve.

AIMS: i) to identify the effects of physical exercise on the cognitive health, depression and HRQoL of patients with MCI, and ii) to examine the differential effects, if any, of different designs of exercise programmes on the above health outcomes. ADDED VALUE: physical exercise is beneficial for improving global cognition in MCI pa tients; particularly, aerobic exercise is associated with better effects. More RCTs with rigorous study design are needed to explore the effects of physical exercise on cognitive subdomains and psychological outcomes in MCI patients TARGET GROUP: 11 studies were included in the review. All the participants were middle aged to very old people with MCI living in the community (7 studies) or in memory clinics (4 studies). TYPE OF EXERCISE-PERIODICITY: The interventions were classified into three categories: (1) aerobic exercise (n=6), (2) resistance training (n=4) and (3) multi-modal exercise (n=2). In the case of aerobic exercise, a walking programme was the one most commonly used (n=4). The majority of aerobic exercise programmes were of moderate intensity (n=4). Two of the three resistance training programmes were of high intensity. Both multi-modal exercise programmes included three or four exercise types (aerobic, resistance training, stretching and balance, Tai Chi) which was conducted by in groups under supervision.The duration varied from 6 weeks to 12 months ((2-4 times/week, 30-90 minutes/day )

AIMS: To investigate whether cognitive and physical activities in midlife are associated with reduced risk of dementia and dementia subtypes in women followed for 44 years. ADDED VALUE: The relation of physical and cognitive activity to reduce incidence of dementia among woman in a period of 44 years. TARGET GROUP: A population-based sample of 800 women aged 38–54 years followed from 1968 to 2012. TYPE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: The women were assigned to 4 groups. Group 1 was completely inactive, for example at most watching television and going to the movies. Group 2 engaged in light physical activity for a minimum of 4 h/wk, such as walking, gardening, bowling, or cycling for half an hour a day. Group 3 had regular physical training, such as running, tennis, or swimming, for at least 2–3h/wk. Group 4 had regular–intense physical training such as heavy exercise, for example running or swimming several times/week, or engaging in competitive sports

AIMS: To analyze the association between PA and dementia incidence in a large population-based cohort using a validated questionnaire developed specifically to explore household, transportation, leisure and sport activities in elderly people. Secondary objectives were to determine the PA types significantly associated with dementia, to study the shape of the risk function for each activity-specific subscore, and to identify the appropriate activity threshold values. ADDED VALUE: The study used data from the prospective observational Three-city cohort and included community-dwelling individuals aged 72 to 87 without dementia at baseline. TYPE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: PA was assessed using the questionnaire developed by Voorrips. It is divided in three parts: house-hold/transportation activities, leisure time activities, and sport activities. The household/transportation activity part includes 10 questions about housework, preparing meals, shop-ping and transportation used. The leisure time and sport activity parts include questions on the type of activity, number of hours per week, and number of months per year. The activity types are associated with intensities that are determined according to the activity energetic costs.