Aerobic exercise and vascular cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Mild subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment (SIVCI) affects cognitive and everyday function.
• Progressive aerobic exercise training (AT) is a potential intervention for SIVCI.
• Evidence for AT's efficacy in SIVCI is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of a 6-month progressive aerobic exercise training program on cognitive and everyday function in adults with mild SIVCI.
• To compare AT with usual care plus education.
• To evaluate outcomes at the end of intervention and at 6-month follow-up.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted.
• Participants (n=70) with mild SIVCI were randomized to AT (thrice-weekly) or usual care plus education.
• Primary outcomes included general cognitive function (ADAS-Cog), executive functions (EXIT-25), and daily living activities (ADCS-ADL).

Main Results:

• The AT group showed significant improvement in ADAS-Cog scores compared to the control group at intervention completion (p=0.02).
• This cognitive benefit was not sustained at the 6-month follow-up (p=0.46).
• No significant differences were observed in EXIT-25 or ADCS-ADL performance between groups at any time point. Secondary outcomes showed improvements in 6-minute walk distance and diastolic blood pressure in the AT group.

Conclusions:

• Six months of thrice-weekly progressive aerobic training offers preliminary evidence of efficacy for improving general cognitive function in community-dwelling adults with mild SIVCI.
• The cognitive benefits may not be long-lasting, and effects on executive function and daily activities require further investigation.
• Aerobic exercise training also demonstrated positive effects on physical function and blood pressure in this population.