Effectiveness of executive function training on mental set shifting, working memory and inhibition in healthy older adults: A double-blind randomized controlled trials

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 1099-1113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huei-Ling Chiu ◽  
Pi-Tuan Chan ◽  
Ching-Chiu Kao ◽  
Hsin Chu ◽  
Pi-Chen Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Executive Function Training

Effectiveness of Combined Cognitive and Physical Interventions to Enhance Functioning in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (8) ◽  
pp. e633-e642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenchen Yang ◽  
Ami Moore ◽  
Elias Mpofu ◽  
Diana Dorstyn ◽  
Qiwei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Abstract Background and Objectives Cognitive training delivered in conjunction with physical activity, may help to optimize aging and delay or prevent dementia in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, their efficacy is less well studied compared to pharmaceutical treatments. This systematic review synthesizes the emerging evidence on combined cognitive-physical interventions for enhancing functioning in older adults with MCI, with implications for practice and research. Research Design and Methods We searched the PubMed, PsycINFO, Ageline, Medline, Web of Science and ProQuest databases, and hand-searched articles published between July 2013 and November 2018. Only randomized controlled trials which incorporated cognitive and physical components targeted to individuals with MCI over the age of 50 were eligible. Our search yielded 10 eligible, independent articles. Results Intervention participants with MCI self-reported, or demonstrated, improved functioning across a range of cognitive (global cognitive function, executive function, processing speed, memory, attention, mood, emotion, motivation, brain cortex, orientation), and physical (gait, balance, mobility) outcomes. Interventions which combined cognitive-physical training were comparable to those which isolated these same elements, in terms of their effects on executive function, processing speed, attention, mood, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Discussion and Implications There is preliminary evidence to support the positive effects of multicomponent interventions to improve cognitive-motor abilities in older adults at risk of developing dementia. The strength of this research evidence is, however, limited. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether these effects are maintained over time. The optimal intervention intensity and length also need to be established.

scholarly journals Effects of Exergaming on Balance of Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qun Fang ◽  
Parisa Ghanouni ◽  
Sarah E. Anderson ◽  
Hilary Touchett ◽  
Rebekah Shirley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Cognitive Training with Modern Board and Card Games in Healthy Older Adults: Two Randomized Controlled Trials

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verónica Estrada‐Plana ◽  
Roger Montanera ◽  
Ana Ibarz‐Estruga ◽  
Jaume March‐Llanes ◽  
Núria Vita‐Barrull ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Card Games

scholarly journals The Effect of Probiotics on Health Outcomes in the Elderly: A Systematic Review of Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1344
Author(s):  
Ashley N. Hutchinson ◽  
Cecilia Bergh ◽  
Kirsten Kruger ◽  
Martina Sűsserová ◽  
Jessica Allen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Microbiota Composition ◽  
Probiotic Supplementation ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Gut Microbiota Composition

Increasing evidence suggests that probiotic supplementation may be efficacious in counteracting age-related shifts in gut microbiota composition and diversity, thereby impacting health outcomes and promoting healthy aging. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with probiotics in healthy older adults have utilized a wide variety of strains and focused on several different outcomes with conflicting results. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to determine which outcomes have been investigated in randomized controlled trials with probiotic supplementation in healthy older adults and what has been the effect of these interventions. For inclusion, studies reporting on randomized controlled trials with probiotic and synbiotic supplements in healthy older adults (defined as minimum age of 60 years) were considered. Studies reporting clinical trials in specific patient groups or unhealthy participants were excluded. In addition to assessment of eligibility and data extraction, each study was examined for risk of bias and quality assessment was performed by two independent reviewers. Due to the heterogeneity of outcomes, strains, study design, duration, and methodology, we did not perform any meta-analyses and instead provided a narrative overview of the outcomes examined. Of 1997 potentially eligible publications, 17 studies were included in this review. The risk of bias was low, although several studies failed to adequately describe random sequence generation, allocation concealment, and blinding. The overall study quality was high; however, many studies did not include sample calculations, and the majority of studies had a small sample size. The main outcomes examined in the trials included microbiota composition, immune-related measurements, digestive health, general well-being, cognitive function, and lipid and other biomarkers. The most commonly assessed outcome with the most consistent effect was microbiota composition; all but one study with this outcome showed significant effects on gut microbiota composition in healthy older adults. Overall, probiotic supplementation had modest effects on markers of humoral immunity, immune cell population levels and activity, as well as the incidence and duration of the common cold and other infections with some conflicting results. Digestive health, general-well-being, cognitive function, and lipid and other biomarkers were investigated in a very small number of studies; therefore, the impact on these outcomes remains inconclusive. Probiotics appear to be efficacious in modifying gut microbiota composition in healthy older adults and have moderate effects on immune function. However, the effect of probiotic supplementation on other health outcomes remains inconclusive, highlighting the need for more well-designed, sufficiently-powered studies to investigate if and the mechanisms by which probiotics impact healthy aging.

scholarly journals Frontal White Matter Hyperintensities and Executive Functioning Performance in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuel M. Boutzoukas ◽  
Andrew O'Shea ◽  
Alejandro Albizu ◽  
Nicole D. Evangelista ◽  
Hanna K. Hausman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Frontal Lobe ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensities ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Age Related

Frontal lobe structures decline faster than most other brain regions in older adults. Age-related change in the frontal lobe is associated with poorer executive function (e.g., working memory, switching/set-shifting, and inhibitory control). The effects and presence of frontal lobe white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on executive function in normal aging is relatively unknown. The current study assessed relationships between region-specific frontal WMH load and cognitive performance in healthy older adults using three executive function tasks from the NIH Toolbox (NIHTB) Cognition Battery. A cohort of 279 healthy older adults ages 65–88 completed NIHTB and 3T T1-weighted and FLAIR MRI. Lesion Segmentation Toolbox quantified WMH volume and generated lesion probability maps. Individual lesion maps were registered to the Desikan-Killiany atlas in FreeSurfer 6.0 to define regions of interest (ROI). Independent linear regressions assessed relationships between executive function performance and region-specific WMH in frontal lobe ROIs. All models included age, sex, education, estimated total intracranial volume, multi-site scanner differences, and cardiovascular disease risk using Framingham criteria as covariates. Poorer set-shifting performance was associated with greater WMH load in three frontal ROIs including bilateral superior frontal (left β = −0.18, FDR-p = 0.02; right β = −0.20, FDR-p = 0.01) and right medial orbitofrontal (β = −0.17, FDR-p = 0.02). Poorer inhibitory performance associated with higher WMH load in one frontal ROI, the right superior frontal (right β = −0.21, FDR-p = 0.01). There were no significant associations between working memory and WMH in frontal ROIs. Our study demonstrates that location and pattern of frontal WMH may be important to assess when examining age-related differences in cognitive functions involving switching/set-shifting and inhibition. On the other hand, working memory performance was not related to presence of frontal WMH in this sample. These data suggest that WMH may contribute selectively to age-related declines in executive function. Findings emerged beyond predictors known to be associated with WMH presence, including age and cardiovascular disease risk. The spread of WMH within the frontal lobes may play a key role in the neuropsychological profile of cognitive aging. Further research should explore whether early intervention on modifiable vascular factors or cognitive interventions targeted for executive abilities may help mitigate the effect of frontal WMH on executive function.

The Effect of Unsupervised Home-Based Exercise Training on Physical Functioning Outcomes in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

2021 ◽  
pp. 109980042198943
Author(s):  
Mahdi Mahjur ◽  
Ali Asghar Norasteh
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Exercise Training ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Body Strength

Background: Exercise training such as balance, aerobic, and resistance training is able to improve physical functioning of older adults. Delivering such exercise regimes at home without supervision may be useful for older adults because they do not have to leave their homes. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aimed to establish the effect of unsupervised home-based exercise training regimes on physical functioning (balance and muscle strength) in older adults. Data sources: PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases and reference lists of included investigations were searched. Study selection: Thirteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise training impact on balance and upper body strength with concurrent control groups were included in the analysis. Results: Our analyses revealed that in older adults, unsupervised home-based various exercise training was effective in improving measures of proactive balance (mean difference (MD) = −1.37 s; 95% confidence interval (CI), −2.24, −0.51 s; p = 0.002) and balance test battery (MD: 1.80; 95% CI, 0.46, 3.14 s; p = 0.009). There were no significant differences between the experimental and control groups for upper body strength ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: Unsupervised home-based exercise training improves balance in older adults. Future investigations are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying unsupervised home-based exercise training’s effect on this population’s physical functioning outcomes.

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