Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
07:01
Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
Cognitive function affects trainability for physical performance in exercise intervention among older adults with
Kazuki Uemura1, Hiroyuki Shimada, Hyuma Makizako
1Section for Health Promotion, Department for Research and Development to Support Independent Life of Elderly, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Aichi, Japan.
Clinical Interventions in Aging
|February 8, 2013
Summary
General cognitive function, measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), is linked to improved physical performance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment undergoing exercise interventions. Higher baseline MMSE scores correlate with better physical function gains.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Cognitive and physical functions are known to be interrelated.
- The impact of cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on physical performance trainability during exercise interventions remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between baseline cognitive function and changes in physical performance after a structured exercise intervention in older adults diagnosed with MCI.
Main Methods:
- Forty-four older adults with MCI (mean age 74.8 years) participated in a 6-month exercise program (twice weekly).
- Physical performance was assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.
- Cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination - MMSE, Trail Making Test Part B), depression, muscle strength, and attendance rate were measured as predictors.
Main Results:
- The change in TUG performance showed significant correlations with exercise attendance rate (r = -0.354, P = 0.027) and baseline MMSE scores (r = -0.321, P = 0.034).
- Multiple regression analysis confirmed that TUG improvement was independently associated with attendance rate (β = -0.322, P = 0.026) and MMSE score (β = -0.295, P = 0.041), after controlling for age and gender.
Conclusions:
- General cognitive function, specifically as indicated by MMSE scores, is associated with enhanced physical performance improvements in individuals with MCI following exercise interventions.
- Further research is warranted to explore exercise programs tailored to overcome cognitive challenges in older adults with MCI.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...
01:30Information Processing Approach
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...