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Effects of home-based, low-intensity exergaming on cognitive function of individuals with mild cognitive impairment:
Sirintip Kumfu1, Somporn Sungkarat2, Sirinun Boripantakul1
1Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Background:
Although older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) face an increased risk of dementia, accumulating evidence has revealed that their cognitive functions could revert to normal levels with effective interventions. Exercise, particularly a combination of physical and cognitive training delivered in the form of an exergame, has shown promising effects in improving cognitive function of older adults with MCI. Nonetheless, previous research often prescribed center-based, moderate to vigorous intensity exercise, posing potential risks to older adults with physical or medical conditions as well as limiting accessibility for those with schedule or transportation constraints. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of home-based, low-intensity, combined physical-cognitive exercise in the form of an exergame, on cognitive function in individuals with MCI and to further investigate potential biomarkers linking the effectiveness of the exercise program to cognitive alterations.
Methods:
Sixty-four older adults with MCI will be enrolled and randomly allocated to either the exercise group or the control group. The exercise group will engage in a low-intensity, combined physical-cognitive exercise through an exergame, with a 50-minute session, 3 times per week for 12 consecutive weeks. The control group will not receive any intervention. Primary outcome measures will be cognitive performance (global cognition, executive function, memory, and attention), and secondary outcome measures will be plasma biomarkers and physical performance. All assessments will be administered at baseline and after a 12-week intervention.
Discussion:
The findings of this study might provide valuable insights into an effective and practical intervention program aimed at improving cognitive function of older adults with MCI. The low-intensity, home-based exergaming could have considerable clinical implications, as it has the potential to enhance accessibility for individuals who are unable to engage in high-intensity exercise or attend center-based exercise programs.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06201533, Registered January 11, 2024.
