This group performs the same aerobic training protocol used by the conventional aquatic program group. Additionally, cognitive tasks are performed during the active recovery phases. Cognitive training encompasses different domains of cognition in all sessions, including semantic fluency, processing speed, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, memory, attention, and reasoning. The exercises vary in each class, with progression in complexity in each mesocycle.

The Brazilian version of the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) is used to measure the frequency of cognitive failures in everyday life, such as lapses in attention, memory problems, and failures in executing intentional actions (Paula et al., 2017). The questionnaire consists of 25 self-administered items, with responses on a Likert-type scale from 0 to 4, which assess the frequency of cognitive failures in different everyday contexts. The total score ranges from 0 to 100 points, with higher scores indicating a greater perceived frequency of cognitive failures and, therefore, poorer self-perception of cognitive function.

The 6-minute Walk Test (6MWT) is performed to measure aerobic fitness. The course proposed in the original test is 45.72 m rectangular. The course will be adapted for a straight line of 30 m in length, demarcated with cones every 3 m. Participants are instructed to walk for 6 minutes in a flat 30m course, where the total distance walked "as fast as possible" is assessed

The 30-s Chair-Stand test is performed to measure the strength of the lower limbs. Participants are instructed to sit and stand up from a chair 43 cm high from the seat, without the aid of the upper limbs, as many times as possible for 30 s. The total number of complete repetitions performed within the 30 seconds is recorded as the result, with higher values indicating greater lower body strength.

The Arm Curl test is performed to measure the strength of the upper limbs. Starting at full elbow extension and holding a 2 kg dumbbell in each hand, participants are instructed to perform the maximal number of elbow crunches over the full range of motion for 30 s. The test is performed with both upper limbs. The total number of complete repetitions performed within the 30 s is recorded as the result, with higher values indicating greater upper body strength.

The Sit-and-Reach test is performed using a Wells Bench to assess lower limb flexibility, particularly of the hamstring and lower back muscles. Participants sit barefoot on the floor with their legs extended and together, knees fully extended, and the soles of the feet flat against the front of the bench. With arms extended and hands overlapping, they slowly bend forward from the hips, sliding their hands along the measurement scale on the bench, without flexing the knees or using compensatory movements. The maximum reach is held for approximately two seconds, and the greatest distance reached in centimeters in three attempts is recorded.

The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is performed to measure agility and dynamic balance. Participants are instructed to get up from the chair (43 cm), turn around a marker that will be 3m, and return to the starting position. The shortest time of the two attempts is considered the result.

Dual-task performance involves simultaneously performing the TUG test and a cognitive task. Participants are instructed to do the TUG while reciting alternating letters (e.g., A, C, E, etc.). The time taken for the TUG and the number of correctly recited letters are recorded as test results.

Office systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) measurements are obtained using calibrated and automated oscillometric devices (HEM-7320, OMRON, China). Participants are kept in a calm environment for 5 min, and then measurements are performed in both arms of the participant. Three measurements, with an interval of 1 to 2 min, are taken in the arm with the highest initial value. The average of the three measurements is considered the subject's office blood pressure.

Blood pressure reactivity is measured as the difference between values recorded during a mental stressor and those obtained at rest. The Stroop Test (Stroop, 1935) is used to induce mental stress, presented via a video on a screen in front of the participant for three minutes. Every two seconds, a visual stimulus consisting of a word written in a specific color will appear, with the color of the word and its meaning being incongruent (for example, the word "blue" written in red). The participant must respond verbally and as quickly as possible to the color of the letters, ignoring the meaning of the word.

Throughout the test, systolic and diastolic blood pressure are measured by the auscultatory method, using a stethoscope and a calibrated aneroid sphygmomanometer, with one reading every minute, for a total of three readings. The reference arm is the same one used for resting BP assessments. After completing the test, participants are asked to rate their perceived stress level using a

Heart rate variability (HRV) is measured with participants seated and resting for 10 minutes, during which time their heart rate is continuously recorded using the Polar H10 chest sensor, a validated and widely used device for HRV analysis. Data collection takes place in a quiet environment, with a controlled temperature between 24°C and 26°C. Data is collected via Bluetooth and stored in the Polar Flow app, later exported in a compatible format (.txt or .csv). The final five minutes of the resting period are considered for analysis, as they offer greater physiological stability. Data are processed in Kubios HRV® software, with automatic artifact correction using a low threshold filter. HRV analysis follows the recommendations of the Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology (1996), considering time-domain parameters such as SDNN (Standard Deviation of NN Intervals), which reflects the global variability of autonomi

The validated version of the HADS for the Brazilian population is used to assess depressive and anxious symptoms (Botega et al., 1995). It is an instrument composed of 14 items, seven of which form the anxiety subscale and the other seven the depression subscale, allowing the assessment of symptoms in the previous week. Each HADS item has four response options ranging from 0 to 3, reaching a maximum of 21 points in each subscale. Participants are instructed to answer the questions based on the last 7 days. Based on the final score of each subscale, participants are categorized as having symptoms of anxiety or depression as "unlikely" (0 to 7 points), "possible" (8 to 11 points), and "probable" (12 to 21 points). Higher scores indicate more severe symptoms and a worse perceived emotional state.

The validated version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for the Brazilian population is used to assess subjective sleep quality and related disorders (Bertolazi et al., 2011). The questionnaire consists of 19 items, grouped into seven components: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disorders, use of sleeping medications, and daytime dysfunction. Each component is scored from 0 (no difficulty) to 3 (severe difficulty), and the sum of the scores results in an overall score ranging from 0 to 21; scores greater than 5 indicate poor sleep quality.

Quality of life is assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, developed by the World Health Organization and previously validated in the Brazilian population (Fleck et al., 2000). The WHOQOL-BREF comprises 26 items divided into four domains: physical, psychological, social relationships, and environment. This instrument is self-administered, with a 5-point Likert scale, and produces standardized scores ranging from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating better perceived quality of life.

Sociodemographic data, health history, medical conditions, and medication use are collected using a standardized questionnaire before the intervention.

Body mass measurements are performed using a digital scale with a stadiometer (Welmy, Santa Bárbara d'Oeste - São Paulo, Brazil). Body mass is measured in kilograms.

Height measurements are performed using a digital scale with a stadiometer (WELMY, Santa Bárbara d'Oeste - São Paulo, Brazil). Height is measured in meters.

The calculation of the BMI is performed using the equation: BMI = body mass (kg)/height² (m).

Waist and hip circumferences are measured with a measuring tape placed around the navel height and the width of the participants' hips, respectively, to calculate the waist-hip ratio.

The self-reported physical activity level is measured at baseline and post-intervention using the Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. The translated and validated Brazilian version of the Godin-Shepard questionnaire is used (São-João et al., 2013). Participants should report the number of times they perform vigorous, moderate, and light physical activities for more than 15 minutes a week. The weekly frequencies of intense, moderate, and light activities should be multiplied by nine, five, and three, respectively. The total weekly leisure activity is calculated in arbitrary units from the sum of the products of each component, allowing for categorizing the individual as insufficiently active or active.

The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) is used to monitor eating habits. According to the Brazilian Food Guidelines, foods are divided into two groups: in natura/minimally processed foods and processed or ultra-processed foods. The instrument includes a list of 16 foods, and scores are assigned to each based on how often participants report consuming them. The scores can range from 0 to 32 points, with higher scores indicating healthier eating habits. An overall healthy eating score is also calculated by summing all evaluated foods, ranging from 0 to 64 points, where higher scores reflect better eating habits.

Adherence measures are taken into account for attendance and compliance in interventions. Attendance is monitored through the session's frequency recording and expressed as the percent of intervention sessions experienced by a participant, given the total number of scheduled sessions. Compliance is defined as the percentage of intervention sessions performed without protocol deviations.

The intensity participants perceive at the end of the last class of each mesocycle is recorded using the perceived exertion index. The validated Brazilian Portuguese version of Borg's Category-Ratio 10 scale, adapted by Foster et al. (2001), is used. The scale has values from 0 to 10, anchored to intensities of perceived effort, with 0 being equivalent to no effort (rest) and 10 to maximum effort.

Each participant answers 14 questions regarding their perception of the intervention using a 7-point Likert scale, in which "1" means "no total agreement" and "7" means "total agreement". The questionnaire is applied post-intervention to assess the participants' perception of safety, enjoyment, motivation, future outlook, benefits for daily life, influence of intervention partners, exercise-related fatigue, satisfaction, self-confidence in physical performance, supervision preference, changes in lifestyle, including physical activity and dietary habits, and main barriers to group participation.