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. 2024 May 17;13(10):2962.
doi: 10.3390/jcm13102962.

Effectiveness of a Dual-Task Intervention Involving Exercise and Vocalized Cognitive Tasks

Masahiro Abo  1 , Toyohiro Hamaguchi  2
Affiliations

Effectiveness of a Dual-Task Intervention Involving Exercise and Vocalized Cognitive Tasks

Masahiro Abo et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Population aging is rapidly increasing, and the importance of preventive medicine has been stressed. Health checkups, diet, and exercise are of paramount importance. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized dual-task intervention that combined exercise with cognitive tasks in improving physical and cognitive functions among independently living older individuals. Methods: Participants aged >65 years who were mostly independent in their activities of daily living were divided into two groups. The group receiving the 20 min robot-assisted session was compared with the group receiving traditional functional restoration training. This randomized trial assessed the impact of this intervention on the 30 s chair stand test score and Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Japanese version score of the participants. Results: Both scores significantly improved in the intervention group, indicating enhanced lower-limb function and cognitive capabilities. Conclusions: These findings suggest that integrating cognitive tasks with physical exercise can stand as an effective strategy to improve overall well-being in older people, offering valuable insights for designing comprehensive preventive health programs tailored to this demographic.

Keywords: CS-30; MoCA-J; cross-step training; dual task.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of this study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual diagram and protocol of this study designed to examine the differences in the effects of robot-assisted and conventional therapies on physical and cognitive functions in independently living older participants.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flow chart of the processing protocol applied in this study for the inclusion and categorization of the participants. The included study participants from seven hospitals (n = 116) underwent robot-assisted or conventional therapy. The same patients were also divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of sarcopenia and MCI.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of robot-assisted and conventional therapies on the CS-30 score. (A) Comparison of changes in the total score of all patients. (B) Stratified analysis of patients with sarcopenia (CS-30 score < 17 for men and < 15 for women) and MCI (MoCA-J score < 26). (C) Stratified analysis of patients without sarcopenia (CS-30 score ≥ 17 for men and ≥15 for women) and without MCI (MoCA-J score ≥ 26). The data show lower-limb function with means (circles) and standard deviations (error bars). n = 116, repeated-measures ANOVA, with sex and age as covariates. * vs. pre–post in the robot-assisted group. pTukey < 0.05 for post hoc comparisons.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of robot-assisted and conventional therapies on the MoCA-J score. (A) Comparison of changes in the total score. (B) Stratified analysis of patients with sarcopenia (CS-30 score < 17 for men and < 15 for women) and MCI (MoCA-J score < 26). (C) Stratified analysis of patients without sarcopenia (CS-30 score ≥ 17 for men and ≥15 for women) and without mild dementia (MoCA-J score ≥ 26). The data show cognitive function with mean values (circle dots) and standard deviations (error bars). n = 116, repeated-measures ANOVA, with sex and age as covariates. n = 116, * vs. pre–post. † vs. during–post in the robot-assisted group. pTukey < 0.05 for post hoc comparisons.
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