A 24-Week Multi-Modality Exercise Program Improves Executive Control in Older Adults with a Self-Reported Cognitive...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Older adults at risk for cognitive decline often experience executive dysfunction.
• Multiple-modality exercise programs show potential for cognitive improvement.
• The added benefit of cognitive training within exercise interventions remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if cognitive training offers an additive benefit to a multiple-modality exercise program for executive control in individuals with self-reported cognitive complaints (SCC).
• To identify optimal training strategies to delay or ameliorate executive deficits in at-risk populations.

Main Methods:

• A 24-week intervention study involving individuals with SCC.
• Two groups: M2 (aerobic and resistance training) and M4 (aerobic and resistance training plus cognitive-based stepping task).
• Executive control assessed using the antisaccade task (pre- and post-intervention).

Main Results:

• Both M2 and M4 groups showed significant decreases in antisaccade reaction times from pre- to post-intervention.
• The magnitude of improvement in executive performance was consistent between the M2 and M4 groups.
• Mind-motor training did not provide an additional benefit beyond standard exercise.

Conclusions:

• Multiple-modality exercise training alone is sufficient to improve executive control in individuals with self-reported cognitive complaints.
• Aerobic and resistance training effectively enhances executive function, independent of concurrent cognitive-based interventions.
• Future research should focus on the specific components of exercise that drive executive function improvements.