Abstract TP140: The Beneficial Effects of Sequential Combination of Cognitive Training and Aerobic Exercise in Stroke Patients With Cognitive Decline

(1) Background: Stroke is a major cause of permanent disability in multiple functions, including the cognitive domain. Since both cognitive training and aerobic physical exercise may exert positive effects on cognition after stroke, one may expect synergistic benefits when combining both interventions. (2) Methods: We carried out a systematic search of studies testing, in adult stroke patients, whether structured aerobic exercise combined with cognitive training led to higher cognitive benefits than either of these interventions when applied singly, or than interventions not including aerobic exercise or cognitive training. (3) Results: Five fair-quality randomized controlled trials fulfilled the search criteria. Exercise intensity was moderate–vigorous and cognitive training was mainly computer-based. The studies were heterogeneous regarding the cognitive tests used, and for this reason, a meta-analysis was not performed. Only three studies included follow-up assessment. The combined intervention was associated with pre-post improvement in at least one cognitive test in all the studies, and with higher positive effects compared to other conditions (although statistical significance was not always reached) in four studies. (4) Conclusions: Further trials including a long-term follow-up and comprehensive neuropsychological testing should be undertaken to determine whether combined aerobic exercise and cognitive training leads to additive cognitive benefits after stroke.

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Efficacy of simultaneous aerobic exercise and cognitive training in subjective cognitive decline: study protocol for randomized controlled trial of the Exergames Study

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-020-04950-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dereck Salisbury ◽

Tom Plocher ◽

Fang Yu

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽

Randomized Controlled

Abstract Background Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is an early manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and offers a therapeutic window where interventions have strong potential to prevent or delay the progression of AD. Aerobic exercise and cognitive training represent two promising interventions for AD prevention, but their synergistic effect has yet to be assessed in persons with SCD. Methods/design The purpose of this single-blinded, 3-parallel group randomized controlled trial is to test the synergistic efficacy of an exergame intervention (simultaneous moderate-intensity aerobic cycling and cognitive training) on cognition and aerobic fitness in community-dwelling older adults with SCD. The Exergames Study will randomize 96 participants on a 2:1:1 allocation ratio to 3-month exergame, cycling only, or attention control (stretching). Primary outcomes include global cognition and aerobic fitness, which will be assessed at baseline and after 3 months. The specific aims of the Exergames Study are to (1) determine the efficacy of the exergame in older adults with SCD and (2) assess the distraction effect of exergame on aerobic fitness. Data will be analyzed using ANOVA following intention-to-treat. Discussion This study will test the synergistic effects of exergame on cognition and aerobic fitness. It has the potential to advance prevention research for AD by providing effect-size estimates for future trials. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04311736. Registered on 17 March 2020.

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EFFECTS OF COGNITIVE TRAINING ON WHITE MATTER MICROSTRUCTURE AND COGNITION IN OLDER ADULTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2440 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S658-S659

Author(s):

Grace M McPhee ◽

Luke A Downey ◽

Con Stough

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

White Matter ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Cognitive Activity ◽

Region Of Interest ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Age Related

Abstract Adults who remain cognitively active may be protected from age-associated changes in white matter (WM) and cognitive decline. To determine if cognitive activity is a precursor for WM plasticity, the available literature was systematically searched for Region of Interest (ROI) and whole-brain studies assessing the efficacy of cognitive training (CT) on WM microstructure using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) in healthy adults (> 40 years). Seven studies were identified and included in this review. Results suggest there are beneficial effects to WM microstructure after CT in frontal and medial brain regions, with some studies showing improved performance in cognitive outcomes. Benefits of CT were shown to be protective against age-related WM microstructure decline by either maintaining or improving WM after training. These results have implications for determining the capacity for training-dependent WM plasticity in older adults and whether CT can be utilised to prevent age-associated cognitive decline. Additional studies with standardised training and imaging protocols are needed to confirm these outcomes.

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Effects of tACS Combined With Cognitive Training or Aerobic Exercise for Patients With MCI

Case Medical Research ◽

10.31525/ct1-nct04135742 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Cognitive Training

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Relation between cognitive disorders and type of physical activity: Results of the FréLE cohort

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.883 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

C Dupré ◽

N Barth ◽

A El Moutawakkil ◽

F Béland ◽

F Roche ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Cognitive Disorders ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Global Test ◽

Professional Activities ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Few previous cohorts have studied the different type of physical activities and the degree of cognitive decline. The objective of this work was to analyze the leisure, domestic and professional activities with mild and moderate cognitive disorders in older people living in community. Methods The study used data from the longitudinal and observational study, FrèLE (FRagility: Longitudinal Study of Expressions). The collected data included: socio-demographic variables, lifestyle, and health status (frailty, comorbidities, cognitive status, depression). Cognitive decline was assessed by using: MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) and MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment). MoCA was used with two cut-offs (26 and 17) so as to define mild and moderate cognitive disorders Physical activity was assessed by the PASE (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly), structured in three sections: leisure, domestic and professional activities. Spline and proportional hazards regression models (Cox) were used to estimate the risk of cognitive disorders. Results At baseline, 1623 participants were included and the prevalence of cognitive disorders was 6.9% (MMSE) and 7.2% (MoCA), mild cognitive disorders was 71.3%. The mean age was 77 years, and 52% of the participants were women. After a 2 years long follow-up, we found 6.9% (MMSE) and 6% (MoCA) cognitive disorders on participants. Analyses showed that domestic activities were associated to cognitive decline (HR = 0.52 [0.28-0.94] for MMSE and HR = 0.48 [0.28-0.80] for MoCA). No association were found with leisure and professional activities, and no spline were significant with mild cognitive disorders. Conclusions Analysis showed a relationship between cognitive disorders and type of physical activity, thanks to the use of specific questionnaire of elderly and two global test of cognition. These findings will contribute to the debate on the beneficial effects of physical activity on cognition. Key messages This work allowed to compare two test of cognition and their link with physical activity. It contributes to the debate on the beneficial effects of physical activity on cognition. The work allowed us to see the effect of the different types of physical activity and the impact of the statistical method on the results.

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A Novel Touch-Screen, Dual-Language Intervention Program for Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1839 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 559-559

Author(s):

W Quin Yow ◽

Hui-Ching Chen ◽

Tharshini Lokanathan ◽

Attila Achenbach ◽

Lucienne Blessing

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Semantic Memory ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Dual Language ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Verbal Working Memory ◽

Touch Screen ◽

Language Intervention

Abstract Although cognitive training in healthy older adults (OA) has been controversial, specific and isolated cognitive skills such as semantic memory can be improved with appropriate designs. Semantic memory has been considered as a clinical marker for cognitive decline in dementia. The current study, as part of a larger touch-screen dual-language intervention program with cognitive training tools, aims to slow down the rate of cognitive decline in OA with dementia (OwD). A set of neuropsychological tests was conducted before and after the training program. After 24 training sessions over 8-12 weeks, OwD (11 females, 1 male, mean=85.8yo) improved significantly in their verbal working memory (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; RAVLT) while performance of the cognitive-healthy OA (5 females, 3 males, mean=76.3yo) remained the same post-intervention. Our findings suggest that touch-screen technology can help OwD improve their semantic memory. The strengths and limitations of our game design and intervention will be discussed. Part of a symposium sponsored by Technology and Aging Interest Group.

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