Twelve-week physical and leisure activity programme improved cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Japan faces rapid population aging, increasing the need for effective cognitive decline prevention.
• Current municipal services for community-dwelling elderly have insufficient effectiveness.
• This study investigates a comprehensive intervention to prevent cognitive decline in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the efficacy of a 12-week intervention program combining physical and leisure activities.
• To enhance participant motivation and mutual support through a positive environment.
• To prevent cognitive decline in community-dwelling elderly individuals.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week program with physical and leisure activities was administered.
• Cognitive function was assessed using the Five-Cog test and executive function tests.
• Physical function, quality of life, and depressive symptoms were evaluated via questionnaires and physical tests.
• Fifty-two participants (65-87 years) were randomized into intervention (n=26) and control (n=26) groups.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed significant improvement in an analogy task of the Five-Cog test (P=0.046).
• Quality of life significantly improved in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.035).

Conclusions:

• A 12-week community-based intervention improved cognitive function and quality of life in older adults.
• Enhancing motivation and social support is key to program effectiveness.
• Senior citizen volunteers facilitated program implementation and reduced staff burden.