Effects of Vivifrail multicomponent intervention on functional capacity: a multicentre, randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Rehabilitation Medicine
• Neurology and Cognitive Science
• Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Physical exercise is crucial for maintaining functional capacity and mitigating frailty in older adults.
• Exercise interventions show promise in enhancing cognitive function among frail older adults experiencing cognitive impairment and dementia.
• The Vivifrail intervention was evaluated for its impact on functional capacity, cognition, and well-being in community-dwelling older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of the Vivifrail exercise intervention on functional capacity, cognitive function, and overall well-being in community-dwelling older adults.
• To compare the outcomes of the Vivifrail program against a usual-care control group.
• To determine the safety and efficacy of a tailored multicomponent exercise program for frail older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre randomized controlled trial involving 188 older patients (>75 years) with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
• Participants were randomized into an exercise intervention group (n=88) or a usual-care control group (n=100).
• The Vivifrail program included resistance, balance, flexibility, and gait-retraining exercises over three months, with functional capacity assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).

Main Results:

• The Vivifrail group demonstrated significant improvements in functional capacity, with SPPB scores increasing by 0.86 points after 1 month and 1.40 points after 3 months compared to the control group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively).
• The exercise intervention group also showed significant benefits in cognitive function, muscle strength, and depression symptoms after 3 months (P < 0.05).
• No significant differences were observed between groups for other secondary endpoints, including falls, hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and mortality.

Conclusions:

• The Vivifrail exercise training program is a safe and effective therapy for enhancing functional capacity in frail/prefrail older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
• The intervention demonstrated beneficial effects on cognitive function, muscle strength, and mood status.
• Multicomponent exercise programs like Vivifrail can be recommended for improving health outcomes in this vulnerable population.