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Does a multicomponent exercise program improve dual-task performance in amnestic mild cognitive impairment? A randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Background and aims: There has been much interest in exercise interventions as a primary behavioral prevention strategy against cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a multicomponent exercise program on physical and dual-task performances in community-dwelling older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods: Fifty older adults (23 women) with aMCI (mean age, 76 years) were randomized to an intervention (n=25) or a control group (n=25). The intervention group received a multicomponent exercise program for 90 minutes/day, 2 days/week, or 40 times over six months. The multicomponent exercises included aerobic exercise, muscle strength training and postural balance retraining, which was conducted under multi-task conditions to stimulate attention and memory. Participants in the control group attended two health promotion education classes within six months. Physical and dual-task performances were measured before randomization and after six months. Dual-task performances using reaction times with balance and cognitive demands were measured. Results: The improvement effects on dual-task performances with both balance and cognitive demands were not statistically significant: reaction time with balance demand F1,45=3.3, p=0.07, and cognitive demand F1,45=2.6, p=0.12. However, there was a significant group-by-time interaction on maximal walking speed, which decreased significantly in the control group (F1,45=5.9, p=0.02). Conclusion: This six-month multicomponent exercise program improved maximal walking speed in older adults with aMCI; however, it did not improve dual-task performances assessed by reaction times.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section for Health Promotion, Department for Research and Development to Support Independent Life of Elderly, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka-machi, Obu, Aichi, 4748511, Japan

    Hyuma Makizako, Takehiko Doi, Hiroyuki Shimada, Daisuke Yoshida, Kota Tsutsumimoto & Kazuki Uemura

  2. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan

    Hyuma Makizako & Kazuki Uemura

  3. Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Aichi, Japan

    Takao Suzuki

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  1. Hyuma Makizako
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  2. Takehiko Doi
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  3. Hiroyuki Shimada
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  4. Daisuke Yoshida
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  5. Kota Tsutsumimoto
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  6. Kazuki Uemura
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  7. Takao Suzuki
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Correspondence to Hyuma Makizako.

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Makizako, H., Doi, T., Shimada, H. et al. Does a multicomponent exercise program improve dual-task performance in amnestic mild cognitive impairment? A randomized controlled trial. Aging Clin Exp Res 24, 640–646 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03654853

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03654853

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