scholarly journals Mindfulness Training Improves Cognition and Strengthens Intrinsic Connectivity Between the Hippocampus and Posteromedial Cortex in Healthy Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunes Sevinc ◽  
Johann Rusche ◽  
Bonnie Wong ◽  
Tanya Datta ◽  
Robert Kaufman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Default Mode Network ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Mindfulness Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Default Mode ◽  
Intrinsic Connectivity

Maintaining optimal cognitive functioning throughout the lifespan is a public health priority. Evaluation of cognitive outcomes following interventions to promote and preserve brain structure and function in older adults, and associated neural mechanisms, are therefore of critical importance. In this randomized controlled trial, we examined the behavioral and neural outcomes following mindfulness training (n = 72), compared to a cognitive fitness program (n = 74) in healthy, cognitively normal, older adults (65–80 years old). To assess cognitive functioning, we used the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC), which combines measures of episodic memory, executive function, and global cognition. We hypothesized that mindfulness training would enhance cognition, increase intrinsic functional connectivity measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between the hippocampus and posteromedial cortex, as well as promote increased gray matter volume within those regions. Following the 8-week intervention, the mindfulness training group showed improved performance on the PACC, while the control group did not. Furthermore, following mindfulness training, greater improvement on the PACC was associated with a larger increase in intrinsic connectivity within the default mode network, particularly between the right hippocampus and posteromedial cortex and between the left hippocampus and lateral parietal cortex. The cognitive fitness training group did not show such effects. These findings demonstrate that mindfulness training improves cognitive performance in cognitively intact older individuals and strengthens connectivity within the default mode network, which is particularly vulnerable to aging affects.Clinical Trial Registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02628548], identifier [NCT02628548].

scholarly journals Effect of hypoxic conditioning on functional fitness, balance and fear of falling in healthy older adults: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Timon ◽  
Marta Camacho-Cardeñosa ◽  
Adrián González-Custodio ◽  
Guillermo Olcina ◽  
Narcis Gusi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Functional Fitness ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Hypoxia Exposure ◽  
Hypoxic Conditions

Abstract Background Hypoxic conditioning has been proposed as a new tool to mitigate the sarcopenia and enhance health-related function, but decrements in standing balance have been observed during hypoxia exposure. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a hypoxic conditioning training on functional fitness, balance and fear of falling in healthy older adults. Methods A total of 54 healthy older adults (aged 65–75 years), who voluntarily participated in the study, were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (CON), the normoxia training group (NT) that performed strength training in normoxia, and the hypoxia training group (HT) that trained under moderate hypoxic conditions at a simulated altitude of 2500 m asl. The training programme that was performed during 24 weeks was similar in both experimental groups and consisted of a full-body workout with elastic bands and kettlebells (three sets × 12–15 reps). The Senior Fitness Test (SFT), the Single Leg Stance test (SLS) and the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results Results showed that after training, either in normoxia or in hypoxia, the participants increased upper and lower body strength, and the aerobic endurance, and decreased the fear of falling. Conclusions The moderate hypoxic conditioning seems to be a useful tool to increase the functional capacity in healthy older adults without observing a decline in balance. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04281264. Registered February 9, 2019-Retrospectively registered.

Effects of golf training on cognition in older adults: a randomised controlled trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 944-950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Shimada ◽  
Sangyoon Lee ◽  
Masahiro Akishita ◽  
Koichi Kozaki ◽  
Katsuya Iijima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Logical Memory ◽  
Randomised Controlled

BackgroundAlthough research indicates that a physically active lifestyle has the potential to prevent cognitive decline and dementia, the optimal type of physical activity/exercise remains unclear. The present study aimed to determine the cognitive benefits of a golf-training programme in community-dwelling older adults.MethodsWe conducted a randomised controlled trial between August 2016 and June 2017 at a general golf course. Participants included 106 Japanese adults aged 65 and older. Participants were randomly assigned to either a 24-week (90–120 min sessions/week) golf-training group or a health education control group. Postintervention changes in Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and National Centre for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool scores were regarded as primary outcome measures. Secondary outcome measures included changes in physical performance and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores.ResultsA total of 100 participants (golf training, n=53; control, n=47) completed the assessments after the 24-week intervention period. The adherence to the golf programme was 96.2% (51/53 participants). Analysis using linear mixed models revealed that the golf training group exhibited significantly greater improvements in immediate logical memory (p=0.033), delayed logical memory (p=0.009) and composite logical memory (p=0.013) scores than the control group. However, no significant changes in MMSE, word memory, Trail Making Test or Symbol Digital Substitution Test scores were observed. In addition, no significant changes in grip strength, walking speed or GDS were observed.ConclusionsGolf-based exercise interventions may improve logical memory in older adults, but no significant changes in other cognitive tests. Further follow-up investigations are required to determine whether the observed effects are associated with delayed onset of mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease in older adults.Trial registration numberUMIN-CTR UMIN000024797; Pre-results.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Improves Verbal and Spatial Memory in Older Adults with Probable Mild Cognitive Impairment: A 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay S. Nagamatsu ◽  
Alison Chan ◽  
Jennifer C. Davis ◽  
B. Lynn Beattie ◽  
Peter Graf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Spatial Memory ◽  
Aerobic Training ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled

We report secondary findings from a randomized controlled trial on the effects of exercise on memory in older adults with probable MCI. We randomized 86 women aged 70–80 years with subjective memory complaints into one of three groups: resistance training, aerobic training, or balance and tone (control). All participants exercised twice per week for six months. We measured verbal memory and learning using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and spatial memory using a computerized test, before and after trial completion. We found that the aerobic training group remembered significantly more items in the loss after interference condition of the RAVLT compared with the control group after six months of training. In addition, both experimental groups showed improved spatial memory performance in the most difficult condition where they were required to memorize the spatial location of three items, compared with the control group. Lastly, we found a significant correlation between spatial memory performance and overall physical capacity after intervention in the aerobic training group. Taken together, our results provide support for the prevailing notion that exercise can positively impact cognitive functioning and may represent an effective strategy to improve memory in those who have begun to experience cognitive decline.

scholarly journals Object-Location Memory Training in Older Adults Leads to Greater Deactivation of the Dorsal Default Mode Network

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ania Mikos ◽  
Brigitta Malagurski ◽  
Franziskus Liem ◽  
Susan Mérillat ◽  
Lutz Jäncke
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Default Mode Network ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Object Location ◽  
Memory Training ◽  
Default Mode ◽  
Location Memory ◽  
Object Location Memory

Substantial evidence indicates that cognitive training can be efficacious for older adults, but findings regarding training-related brain plasticity have been mixed and vary depending on the imaging modality. Recent years have seen a growth in recognition of the importance of large-scale brain networks on cognition. In particular, task-induced deactivation within the default mode network (DMN) is thought to facilitate externally directed cognition, while aging-related decrements in this neural process are related to reduced cognitive performance. It is not yet clear whether task-induced deactivation within the DMN can be enhanced by cognitive training in the elderly. We previously reported durable cognitive improvements in a sample of healthy older adults (age range = 60–75) who completed 6 weeks of process-based object-location memory training (N = 36) compared to an active control training group (N = 31). The primary aim of the current study is to evaluate whether these cognitive gains are accompanied by training-related changes in task-related DMN deactivation. Given the evidence for heterogeneity of the DMN, we examine task-related activation/deactivation within two separate DMN branches, a ventral branch related to episodic memory and a dorsal branch more closely resembling the canonical DMN. Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while performing an untrained object-location memory task at four time points before, during, and after the training period. Task-induced (de)activation values were extracted for the ventral and dorsal DMN branches at each time point. Relative to visual fixation baseline: (i) the dorsal DMN was deactivated during the scanner task, while the ventral DMN was activated; (ii) the object-location memory training group exhibited an increase in dorsal DMN deactivation relative to the active control group over the course of training and follow-up; (iii) changes in dorsal DMN deactivation did not correlate with task improvement. These results indicate a training-related enhancement of task-induced deactivation of the dorsal DMN, although the specificity of this improvement to the cognitive task performed in the scanner is not clear.

Mindfulness Training and Attentional Control in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Whitmoyer ◽  
Stephanie Fountain-Zargoza ◽  
Rebecca Andridge ◽  
Keith Bredemeier ◽  
Allison Londerée ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Attentional Control ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mindfulness Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Active Control Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Mindfulness-based interventions have been found to improve facets of attentional control. However, comparison with active control groups has been scarce, and few studies have examined mindfulness as a means to ameliorate age-related cognitive deficits. This rigorously-designed, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial, investigated the effects of mindfulness-based attention training (MBAT) on attentional control in older adults relative to an active control group. Seventy-four community-dwelling older adults were randomized to four weeks of MBAT or an active lifestyle eduction control group. Pre- and post-intervention, participants completed two computerized measures of attentional control with intermittent assessments of self-reported mind-wandering. Although we found some evidence for greater reductions in mind-wandering in the MBAT than the active control group, the MBAT group did not exhibit greater improvements in attentional performance. Exploratory analyses revealed working memory as a significant moderator of the observed effects, such that those in the MBAT group with higher working memory showed greater improvement in attentional control. Thus, we found preliminary evidence for attentional benefits following mindfulness training only in individuals with high working memory. Our results call for more rigorous implementation of RCT methodology in future investigations of mindfulness training’s benefits for cognitive functioning in older adults.

Electroacupuncture Modulates Resting-State Functional Connectivity in the Default Mode Network for Healthy Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-92
Author(s):  
Dong-qiong Fan ◽  
Hai-chao Zhao ◽  
Jing Sheng ◽  
Yun-rui Liu ◽  
Jing Yu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Default Mode Network ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Default Mode ◽  
Ventral Medial Prefrontal Cortex

Aging involves cognitive decline and prominent alterations in brain activity. Electroacupuncture (EA), a traditional Chinese medicine approach, is demonstrated to be effective in improving cognitive function of older adults. However, the specific neural mechanism underlying this modulation effect remains unclear. In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate whether EA could improve cognitive performance of community-dwelling older adults and whether these potential improvements are associated with the EA-induced brain functional connectivity alterations. Thirty healthy older adults were recruited and randomly assigned to the EA group and the control group. Behaviorally, we observed an EA-induced improvement in cognitive performance of older adults in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. On a neural perspective, the EA intervention significantly increased the functional connectivity within the default mode network. Moreover, we found a positive association between the improvement in delayed memory performance and the alterations in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex-hippocampal formation connectivity in the EA group. This study extends previous findings by showing that healthy older adults exhibit neural plasticity manifested as increased functional connectivity after EA sessions, which could induce therapeutic effects in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Impact of Mindfulness Training on In-the-Moment Attentional Control and Emotion Dysregulation in Older Adults: Secondary Analysis of a Pilot, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaadee Samimy ◽  
Heena Manglani ◽  
Stephanie Fountain-Zargoza ◽  
Rebecca Andridge ◽  
Ruchika Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Mindfulness Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Training Effects ◽  
The Moment

Mindfulness-based interventions show increasing promise for improving attention and emotion regulation, processes that critically support healthy aging. Given their complex, multi-faceted nature, identifying specific aspects of attention and emotion regulation that are modifiable with training in older adults, particularly compared with active control groups, is an ongoing challenge. We performed pre-registered, secondary analyses of a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing effects of a four-week mindfulness-based attention training (MBAT) and a lifestyle education active control group (LifeEd) on attention and emotion dysregulation in older adults. Primary analyses found non-significant training effects on a global measure of attention, signal detection sensitivity. However, MBAT resulted in less mind-wandering post-training. Differential training effects were assessed for: 1) in-the-moment effects of mind-wandering on sustained attention, measured by performance decrements preceding self-reported mind-wandering; and 2) self-reported emotion dysregulation. Working memory performance at baseline was tested as a moderator of training effects. No significant between-group differences for change in in-the-moment effects of mind-wandering on attention or emotion dysregulation emerged. However, baseline working memory moderated effects of mindfulness training on emotion dysregulation. Thus, brief mindfulness training, relative to an active control group, did not mitigate in-the-moment effects of mind-wandering on attention or reduce emotion dysregulation in older adults. However, baseline working memory performance moderated training effects, such that older adults with higher working memory showed greater reductions in emotion dysregulation following mindfulness training. This has potential implications for identifying aging cohorts that may benefit most from this type of training.

Single Versus Combined Cognitive and Physical Activity Effects on Fluid Cognitive Abilities of Healthy Older Adults: A 4-Month Randomized Controlled Trial With Follow-Up

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Linde ◽  
Dorothee Alfermann
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Combined Training ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Cognitive Speed

Background:Physical and cognitive activity seems to be an effective strategy by which to promote age-sensitive fluid cognitive abilities in older adults.Method:In this randomized controlled trial, 70 healthy senior citizens (age 60–75) were allocated to a physical, cognitive, combined physical plus cognitive, and waiting control group. The trial assessed information processing speed, short-term memory, spatial relations, concentration, reasoning, and cognitive speed.Results:In contrast to the control group, the physical, cognitive, and combined training groups enhanced their concentration immediately after intervention. Only the physical training group showed improved concentration 3 months later. The combined training group displayed improved cognitive speed both immediately and three months after intervention. The cognitive training group displayed improved cognitive speed 3 months after intervention.Conclusions:Physical, cognitive, and combined physical plus cognitive activity can be seen as cognition-enrichment behaviors in healthy older adults that show different rather than equal intervention effects.

scholarly journals The effects of combined cognitive training on prospective memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifan Chen ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Zijing Hong ◽  
Rongrong Hu ◽  
Zhibin Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Executive Function Training ◽  
Encoding Strategy

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the effects of combined cognitive training on prospective memory ability of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 113 participants were divided into a control group and three intervention groups. Over three months, the control group received only community education without any training, whereas for the first six weeks, an executive function training group received executive function training, a memory strategy training group received semantic encoding strategy training, and the combined cognitive training group received executive function training twice a week for the first six weeks, and semantic encoding strategy training twice a week for the next six weeks. The combined cognitive training group showed improvement on the objective neuropsychological testing (Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale). The memory strategy training group showed improvement on the self-evaluation scales (PRMQ-PM). Combined cognitive training improved the prospective memory and cognitive function of older adults with MCI.

scholarly journals Effects of multi-domain cognitive training on working memory retrieval in older adults: behavioral and ERP evidence from a Chinese community study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangfei Hong ◽  
You Chen ◽  
Jijun Wang ◽  
Yuan Shen ◽  
Qingwei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Baseline Session

AbstractWorking memory (WM) is a fundamental cognitive function that typically declines with age. Previous studies have shown that targeted WM training has the potential to improve WM performance in older adults. In the present study, we investigated whether a multi-domain cognitive training program that was not designed to specifically target WM could improve the behavioral performance and affect the neural activity during WM retrieval in healthy older adults. We assigned healthy older participants (70–78 years old) from a local community into a training group who completed a 3-month multi-domain cognitive training and a control group who only attended health education lectures during the same period. Behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG) data were recorded from participants while performing an untrained delayed match or non-match to category task and a control task at a pre-training baseline session and a post-training follow-up session. Behaviorally, we found that participants in the training group showed a trend toward greater WM performance gains than participants in the control group. Event-related potential (ERP) results suggest that the task-related modulation of P3 during WM retrieval was significantly enhanced at the follow-up session compared with the baseline session, and importantly, this enhancement of P3 modulation was only significant in the training group. Furthermore, no training-related effects were observed for the P2 or N2 component during WM retrieval. These results suggest that the multi-domain cognitive training program that was not designed to specifically target WM is a promising approach to improve WM performance in older adults, and that training-related gains in performance are likely mediated by an enhanced modulation of P3 which might reflect the process of WM updating.

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