TRANSFERABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF EFFECTS OF DUAL-TASK TRAINING IN PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA

The objective of this study was to evaluate immediate and long-term transfer from trained to non-trained Dual Task (DT) performances in patients with dementia (PwD). Multi-morbid, older PwD (n=105) were included in a 10-week randomized, controlled trial with the intervention group (IG) performing a DT-based training (‘Walking and Counting’) while the control group (CG) performed unspecific, low-intensity exercises. DT-performance was measured under 3 conditions: ‘Walking and Counting’ (trained), ‘Walking and Verbal Fluency’ (semi-trained) and ‘Strength and Verbal Fluency’ (untrained). Motor and cognitive performance was documented as single-task (ST) and DT at baseline (T1) after training (T2) and at follow up (T3). The trained DT ‘Walking and Counting’ was significantly improved for motor performances (p