Search

Objectives Studies suggest that cognitive training and physical activity can improve age-related deficits in dual-task performances. However, both of these interventions have never been compared in the same study. This article investigates the improvement in dual-task performance in 2 types of exercise training groups and a cognitive training group and explores if there are specific dual-task components that are more sensitive or more likely to improve following each type of training. Methods Seventy-eight healthy inactive participants older than the age of 60 (M = 69.98, SD = 5.56) were randomized to one of three 12-week training programs: aerobic training (AET) = 26, gross motor abilities (GMA) = 27, and cognition (COG) = 25. Before and after the training program, the participants underwent physical fitness tests, and cognitive evaluations involving a computerized cognitive dual task. The AET consisted of high- and low-intensity aerobic training, the GMA of full-body exercises focusing on agility, balance, coordination, and stretching, and the COG of tablet-based exercises focusing on executive functions. Results Repeated-measures analysis of variance on reaction time data revealed a group × time interaction (F (2,75) = 11.91, p <.01) with COG having the greatest improvement, followed by a significant improvement in the GMA group. Secondary analysis revealed the COG to also improve the intraindividual variability in reaction time (F (1,24) = 8.62, p <.01), while the GMA improved the dual-task cost (F (1,26) = 12.74, p <.01). Discussion The results show that physical and cognitive training can help enhance dual-task performance by improving different aspects of the task, suggesting that different mechanisms are in play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Studies report benefits of physical exercise and cognitive training to enhance cognition in older adults. However, most studies did not compare these interventions to appropriate active controls. Moreover, physical exercise and cognitive training seem to involve different mechanisms of brain plasticity, suggesting a potential synergistic effect on cognition. Objective This study investigated the synergistic effect of cognitive training and aerobic/resistance physical exercise on dual-task performance in older adults. Intervention effects were compared to active controls for both the cognitive and the exercise domain. Method Eighty-seven older adults completed one of 4 different combinations of interventions, in which computer lessons was active control for cognitive training and stretching/toning exercise control for aerobic/resistance training: (a) cognitive dual-task training and aerobic/resistance training (COG+/AER+), (b) computer lessons and aerobic/resistance training (COG−/AER+), (c) cognitive dual-task training and stretching/toning exercises (COG+/AER−), and (d) computer lessons and stretching/toning exercises (COG−/AER−). The primary outcome was performance in an untrained transfer dual task. Stepwise backward removal regression analyses were used to predict pre- versus post-test changes in groups that have completed the dual-task training, aerobic/resistance or both interventions. Results Participation in AER+ did not predict improvement in any dual-task outcomes. Participation in COG+ predicted reduction in dual-task cost and participation in COG+/AER+ predicted reduction in task-set cost. Discussion Results suggest that the combination of cognitive and physical training protocols exerted a synergistic effect on task-set cost which reflects the cost of maintaining multiple response alternatives, whereas cognitive training specifically improved dual-task cost, which reflects the ability of synchronizing concurrent tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]