PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS A NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTION FOR DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN OLDER ADULTS — A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Bartosz Gawior; Alicja Sołtan; Olga Stasiak; Justyna Laskus; Gracjan Koźma; Paweł Klimas; Jakub Pawlicki; Longin Rudnicki; Dominika Kochan-Olszewska; Jagoda Prządka; Julia Lipska; Natalia Wiktorzak; Małgorzata Witaszczyk; Marta Borkowska

doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6578

Authors

Bartosz Gawior Mazovian Bródno Hospital, ul. Ludwika Kondratowicza 8, 03-242 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0935-5414
Alicja Sołtan Central Clinical Hospital of the Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8750-0797
Olga Stasiak Międzylesie Specialist Hospital in Warsaw, ul. Bursztynowa 2, 04-749 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3013-8015
Justyna Laskus Bielański Hospital, ul. Cegłowska 80, 01-809 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8065-0464
Gracjan Koźma Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, 54/56 Krasińskiego Street, 01-755 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8812-6427
Paweł Klimas Św. Wincentego a Paulo Hospital, 1 Wójta Radtkego St., 81-348 Gdynia, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8803-0476
Jakub Pawlicki Specialist Hospital. St. Wojciech based in Gdansk, Aleja Jana Pawła II 50, 80-462 Gdańsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3888-4672
Longin Rudnicki Gdańsk Medical University, Gdansk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8980-8718
Dominika Kochan-Olszewska Holycross Cancer Center in Kielce, ul. Artwińskiego 3, 25-734 Kielce, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0001-7809
Jagoda Prządka Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, ul. Jagiellońska 15, 85-067 Bydgoszcz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7921-919X
Julia Lipska Medical University of Lublin, al. Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4093-2543
Natalia Wiktorzak Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Voivodeship Hospital in Łomża, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 11, 18-400 Łomża, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8601-3087
Małgorzata Witaszczyk University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0197-5480
Marta Borkowska Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute, ul. Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8105-3384

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6578

Keywords:

Physical Activity, Exercise, Depressive Symptoms, Older Adults, Late-Life Depression

Abstract

Background. Depression is a common mental health disorder among older adults and is associated with impaired quality of life, functional decline, and increased morbidity. Physical activity has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention; however, uncertainty remains regarding the optimal exercise prescription and the comparative effectiveness of exercise modalities.

Aim. To critically evaluate the literature regarding physical activity as a non-pharmacological intervention for depressive symptoms in older adults, with emphasis on exercise modality, exercise dose, intervention duration, long-term outcomes, and methodological limitations.

Material and methods. A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. Priority was given to systematic reviews, meta-analyses, network meta-analyses, and randomised controlled trials investigating the effects of physical activity and structured exercise on depressive symptoms in older adults.

Results. The accumulated evidence indicates that structured exercise reduces depressive symptoms in older adults, while habitual physical activity is associated with a lower risk of developing depressive symptoms. Although aerobic, resistance, mind–body, walking, neuromotor, and multicomponent exercise have all demonstrated beneficial effects, no single exercise modality has shown consistent superiority among studies. Exercise dose, programme duration, and adherence may influence treatment outcomes, but the optimal exercise prescription remains uncertain because of substantial methodological heterogeneity.

Conclusions. Structured exercise is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for reducing depressive symptoms in older adults and should be considered as part of comprehensive depression management. Exercise programmes should be individualised, while further high-quality studies are needed to optimise exercise recommendations and strengthen the evidence base for clinical practice.

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