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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Jun 1;77(6):1069-1079.
doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbab216.

A Comparison of the Effect of Physical Activity and Cognitive Training on Dual-Task Performance in Older Adults

Tudor Vrinceanu  1   2 , Caroll-Ann Blanchette  1   2 , Brittany Intzandt  2   3 , Maxime Lussier  4   5 , Kristell Pothier  4   6 , Thien Tuong Minh Vu  1   7 , Anil Nigam  1   2 , Laurent Bosquet  8   9 , Antony D Karelis  4   10 , Karen Z H Li  11   12 , Nicolas Berryman  4   10 , Louis Bherer  1   2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A Comparison of the Effect of Physical Activity and Cognitive Training on Dual-Task Performance in Older Adults

Tudor Vrinceanu et al. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. .

Abstract

Objectives: Studies suggest that cognitive training and physical activity can improve age-related deficits in dual-task performances. However, both of these interventions have never been compared in the same study. This article investigates the improvement in dual-task performance in 2 types of exercise training groups and a cognitive training group and explores if there are specific dual-task components that are more sensitive or more likely to improve following each type of training.

Methods: Seventy-eight healthy inactive participants older than the age of 60 (M = 69.98, SD = 5.56) were randomized to one of three 12-week training programs: aerobic training (AET) = 26, gross motor abilities (GMA) = 27, and cognition (COG) = 25. Before and after the training program, the participants underwent physical fitness tests, and cognitive evaluations involving a computerized cognitive dual task. The AET consisted of high- and low-intensity aerobic training, the GMA of full-body exercises focusing on agility, balance, coordination, and stretching, and the COG of tablet-based exercises focusing on executive functions.

Results: Repeated-measures analysis of variance on reaction time data revealed a group × time interaction (F(2,75) = 11.91, p < .01) with COG having the greatest improvement, followed by a significant improvement in the GMA group. Secondary analysis revealed the COG to also improve the intraindividual variability in reaction time (F(1,24) = 8.62, p < .01), while the GMA improved the dual-task cost (F(1,26) = 12.74, p < .01).

Discussion: The results show that physical and cognitive training can help enhance dual-task performance by improving different aspects of the task, suggesting that different mechanisms are in play.

Keywords: Cognitive aging; Cognitive training; Dual-tasking; Physical training.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Change in DT reaction time across all blocks. Graphs showing means and standard error. AET = aerobic training; GMA = gross motor abilities; COG = cognition; DT = dual task.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Bar graph illustrating the post hoc analysis of the change in dual-task cost (means and standard errors). AET = aerobic training; GMA = gross motor abilities; COG = cognition; SM = single-mixed; DM = dual-mixed; RT = reaction time; * = p < .01.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Change in intraindividual variability. AET = aerobic training; GMA = gross motor abilities; COG = cognition; RT = reaction time.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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