Introduction: Benefits of physical activity on cognitive function in adults are well established as are “brain games”- cognitive activities that are fun and stimulating. Exercise programs that combine both physical and cognitive activities, called dual-task training (DT), have the potential to efficiently and effectively enhance both physical and cognitive function.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if, compared with a traditional exercise-only program (EO), a dual task (DT) exercise program was superior in improving measures of both cognitive and physical function in older adults.
Methods: 35 subjects (X̄age = 65.7 ± 8.5 years,74.3% female, 25.7% male) were sorted into 3 groups: EO (n=15), DT (n=10) and control (CON) (n=10). Baseline cognitive and physical tests were followed by a 12 week exercise intervention. EO and DT participated in small groups led by an instructor (n=3-5) for 3 months of twice weekly, 50 minute sessions where resistance/aerobic exercise were performed at 70-80% of maximal heart rate (HRmax). CON did not participate in any supervised exercise or cognitive game sessions. Cognition was assessed with a CognivueⓇ Thrive software program. Physical testing included dynamic stability and coordination, lower body strength, lower extremity function, mobility, fall risk, body composition, resting blood pressure and heart rate.
Results: Lower body strength and body composition did not differ among groups before or after the exercise intervention (p>0.05). Dynamic stability and coordination scores improved in the DT and EO in the first 6 weeks (0.002 and 0.04, respectively), not Control (p=0.58). Two cognitive variables measured on a Smart Fit BoardⓇ, Response Time (p=0.001), and Accuracy (p=0.03), were improved in the DT and EO but not Con over time (p=0.05).
Conclusion: Adult participants in two different supervised 3 month-long exercise programs performed better on a test of dynamic stability and coordination and had improved accuracy and response times on a cognitive test compared with a control group. DT had a small but statistically insignificant benefit on cognitive and physical test performances compared with EO.
Author(s): Annemarie Jones, Kinesiology, Nutrition and Health Major
Taylor Thornburg, Kinesiology and Premedical Studies Major
Advisor(s): Helaine Alessio, Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Health
Nancy Malay, Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Health
Dean Smith, Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Health
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