Department of Physical Therapy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Wellness Center, Ansan University, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2024 Nov;39(11):e70012. doi: 10.1002/gps.70012.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by a mild decline in cognitive function and represents a risk stage for dementia in community-dwelling older adults. Exercise and dual-task training have been used to improve physical health, psychosocial health, and cognitive and learning functions in various subjects. However, the optimal time for these interventions has yet to be clearly identified. This study investigated the effects of cognitively loaded physical exercise (CLPE) on cognitive function and physical health in community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment and compared the differences according to exercise time.
Fifty-one community-dwelling aged 60 years or older with MCI were randomly assigned to 30-min CLPE (30CLPE, n = 17), 60-min CLPE (60CLPE, n = 17), and control (n = 17) groups. The CLPE program consisted of a twice-weekly exercise program for 8 weeks. During the exercise, a dual task was performed to assess cognitive load. The control group performed a typical exercise program at a dementia center during the same period. The Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to evaluate cognitive function, and various physical health factors were assessed using the handgrip dynamometer and pinch gauge, Senior Fitness Test, dynamic and static balance abilities, and gait variables.
After the intervention, both the 30CLPE and 60CLPE groups showed significant improvements in cognitive function, upper limb strength, senior fitness, balance, and gait (p < 0.05), while the control group showed no significant changes in any of the variables (p > 0.05). In between-group comparisons, both CLPE groups showed significantly improved cognitive and physical functions compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the 30 CLPE and 60 CLPE groups (p > 0.05).
The results of this study demonstrate that cognitively loaded physical exercise is effective in improving cognitive and physical function in individuals with MCI. Both the 30-min and 60-min sessions resulted in significant improvements, with no statistically significant differences observed between the two durations. This suggests that persistence and consistency of exercise may be more important than the duration of individual sessions.
Clinical Trials.gov: KCT0009053.
轻度认知障碍（MCI）的特征是认知功能轻度下降，代表了社区居住的老年人发生痴呆的风险阶段。运动和双重任务训练已被用于改善各种人群的身体健康、社会心理健康以及认知和学习功能。然而，这些干预的最佳时间尚未明确确定。本研究调查了认知负荷体力活动（CLPE）对社区居住的轻度认知障碍老年人的认知功能和身体健康的影响，并根据运动时间比较了差异。
51 名年龄在 60 岁或以上、患有 MCI 的社区居住老年人被随机分配到 30 分钟 CLPE（30CLPE，n=17）、60 分钟 CLPE（60CLPE，n=17）和对照组（n=17）。CLPE 方案包括每周两次，为期 8 周的运动方案。在运动过程中进行双重任务以评估认知负荷。对照组在同期在痴呆症中心进行典型的运动方案。使用蒙特利尔认知评估的韩语版本评估认知功能，使用握力测力计和捏力计、高级健身测试、动态和静态平衡能力以及步态变量评估各种身体健康因素。
干预后，30CLPE 和 60CLPE 组的认知功能、上肢力量、高级健身、平衡和步态均显著改善（p<0.05），而对照组的任何变量均无显著变化（p>0.05）。组间比较，CLPE 两组与对照组相比，认知和身体功能均有显著改善（p<0.05）。但是，30CLPE 和 60CLPE 两组之间没有显著差异（p>0.05）。
本研究结果表明，认知负荷体力活动可有效改善 MCI 个体的认知和身体功能。30 分钟和 60 分钟的疗程均有显著改善，两种疗程之间没有观察到统计学上的显著差异。这表明，运动的坚持和一致性可能比单次疗程的持续时间更为重要。
ClinicalTrials.gov：KCT0009053。
