Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Multicomponent Exercise on Cognitive Performance and Fall Risk in Older Women with Mild Cognitive Impairment

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Background

Emerging evidence suggests that multicomponent exercise provides greater benefits for physical and cognitive function than single component exercise. However, few studies have been conducted to determine these effects in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and findings have been less conclusive. It has been reported that older women have a greater risk of falls and a higher incidence of dementia than men.

Objectives

To examine the effects of multicomponent exercise on cognitive performance and fall risk in older women with MCI.

Design

An experimental design comparing the exercise and control groups.

Setting and participants

Forty community-dwelling older women with MCI were allocated to the exercise (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups.

Intervention

Twelve weeks of multicomponent exercise program (aerobic, resistance, and balance exercise) 60 mins/day, 3 days/week.

Measurement

Cognitive performance including the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) and Trail Making Test (TMT) and fall risk including the Timed Up and Go (TUG) single-, dual-task, and Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) were administered before and after the 12-week exercise program.

Results

At the end of the 12-week training, participants in the exercise group had a significantly greater improvement in TMT part A (p < 0.05), TUG dual-task (p < 0.05), and PPA composite score (p < 0.05) when compared to the control group. The exercise group also demonstrated significant improvement in TUG dual-task, PPA composite score, PPA subcomponents including postural sway and reaction time when compared to baseline (p < 0.05). In contrast, at 12-week, the control group showed a decline in TUG dual-task performance as compared to baseline (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The 12-week multicomponent exercise improved attention, dual-task ability, and reduced risk of falling in older women with mild cognitive impairment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gauthier S, Reisberg B, Zaudig M, Petersen RC, Ritchie K, Broich K, et al. Mild cognitive impairment. Lancet. 2006;367(9518): 1262–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Campbell NL, Unverzagt F, LaMantia MA, Khan BA, Boustani MA. Risk factors for the progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia. Clin Geriatr Med. 2013;29(4):873–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Doi T, Makizako H, Shimada H, Yoshida D, Tsutsumimoto K, Sawa R, et al. Effects of multicomponent exercise on spatial-temporal gait parameters among the elderly with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI): preliminary results from a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2013;56(1): 104–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Tangen GG, Engedal K, Bergland A, Moger TA, Mengshoel AM. Relationships between balance and cognition in patients with subjective cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer disease. Phys Ther. 2014;94(8): 1123–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Beam CR, Kaneshiro C, Jang JY, Reynolds CA, Pedersen NL, Gatz M. Differences between women and men in incidence rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;64(4): 1077–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Liu-Ambrose TY, Ashe MC, Graf P, Beattie BL, Khan KM. Increased risk of falling in older community-dwelling women with mild cognitive impairment. Phys Ther. 2008;88(12):1482–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Sherrington C, Fairhall NJ, Wallbank GK, Tiedemann A, Michaleff ZA, Howard K, et al. Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;1(1):Cd012424.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Chodzko-Zajko WJ, Proctor DN, Fiatarone Singh MA, Minson CT, Nigg CR, Salem GJ, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(7): 1510–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Barnes JN. Exercise, cognitive function, and aging. Adv Physiol Educ. 2015;39(2):55–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cadore EL, Rodriguez-Manas L, Sinclair A, Izquierdo M. Effects of different exercise interventions on risk of falls, gait ability, and balance in physically frail older adults: a systematic review. Rejuvenation Res. 2013;16(2):105–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Saez de Asteasu ML, Martinez-Velilla N, Zambom-Ferraresi F, Casas-Herrero A, Izquierdo M. Role of physical exercise on cognitive function in healthy older adults: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Ageing Res Rev. 2017;37:117–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kovacs E, Sztruhar Jonasne I, Karoczi CK, Korpos A, Gondos T. Effects of a multimodal exercise program on balance, functional mobility and fall risk in older adults with cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled single-blind study. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2013;49(5):639–48.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nascimento C, Pereira J, Andrade L, Garuffi M, Talib L, Forlenza O, et al. Physical exercise in MCI elderly promotes reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and improvements on cognition and BDNF peripheral levels. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2014; 11(8):799–805.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Nascimento CM, Pereira JR, Pires de Andrade L, Garuffi M, Ayan C, Kerr DS, et al. Physical exercise improves peripheral BDNF levels and cognitive functions in mild cognitive impairment elderly with different bdnf Val66Met genotypes. J Alzheimers Dis. 2015;43(1):81–91.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Suzuki T, Shimada H, Makizako H, Doi T, Yoshida D, Ito K, et al. A randomized controlled trial of multicomponent exercise in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e61483.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Suzuki T, Shimada H, Makizako H, Doi T, Yoshida D, Tsutsumimoto K, et al. Effects of multicomponent exercise on cognitive function in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Neurol. 2012; 12(1): 128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Albert MS, DeKosky ST, Dickson D, Dubois B, Feldman HH, Fox NC, et al. The diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2011;7(3):270–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Borg GA. Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982;14(5):377–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Graham DP, Cully JA, Snow AL, Massman P, Doody R. The Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale: normative data for older adult controls. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2004; 18(4):236–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kortte KB, Horner MD, Windham WK. The trail making test, part B: cognitive flexibility or ability to maintain set? Appl Neuropsychol. 2002;9(2): 106–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Shumway-Cook A, Brauer S, Woollacott M. Predicting the probability for falls in community-dwelling older adults using the Timed Up & Go Test. Phys Ther. 2000; 80(9): 896–903.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lord SR, Menz HB, Tiedemann A. A physiological profile approach to falls risk assessment and prevention. Phys Ther. 2003;83(3):237–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Bronnick K, Ehrt U, Emre M, De Deyn PP, Wesnes K, Tekin S, et al. Attentional deficits affect activities of daily living in dementia-associated with Parkinson’s disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2006;77(10): 1136–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Netz Y. Is there a preferred mode of exercise for cognition enhancement in older age?-a narrative review. Front Med (Lausanne). 2019;6:57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Sungkarat S, Boripuntakul S, Chattipakorn N, Watcharasaksilp K, Lord SR. Effects of Tai Chi on cognition and fall risk in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2017;65(4):721–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Bahureksa L, Najafi B, Saleh A, Sabbagh M, Coon D, Mohler MJ, et al. The impact of mild cognitive impairment on gait and balance: a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies using instrumented assessment. Gerontology. 2017;63(1):67–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by The Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), RSA6180023 (SS), the research fund for graduate study, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The authors would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Puangsoi Worakul and Dr. Sirinun Boripuntakul for their assistance with cognitive assessment.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    J. Thaiyanto, C. Sittichoke, K. Phirom & Somporn Sungkarat

Authors
  1. J. Thaiyanto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Sittichoke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Phirom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Somporn Sungkarat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Somporn Sungkarat.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interests: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Ethical standards: Ethical approval number: AMSEC60EX024.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thaiyanto, J., Sittichoke, C., Phirom, K. et al. Effects of Multicomponent Exercise on Cognitive Performance and Fall Risk in Older Women with Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Nutr Health Aging 25, 160–164 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1458-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1458-5

Key words

Search

Navigation