Abstract

Cognitive training and aerobic training are known to improve cognitive functions. To examine the separate and combined effects of such training on cognitive performance, four groups of healthy older adults embarked on a 4 months cognitive and/or mild aerobic training. A first group [n = 33, mean age = 80 (66–90)] engaged in cognitive training, a second [n = 29, mean age = 81 (65–89)] in mild aerobic training, a third [n = 29, mean age = 79 (70–93)] in the combination of both, and a fourth [n = 31, mean age = 79 (71–92)] control group engaged in book-reading activity. The outcome was a well-validated multi-domain computerized cognitive evaluation for older adults. The results indicate that, when compared to older adults who did not engage in cognitive training (the mild aerobic and control groups) older adults who engaged in cognitive training (separate or combined training groups) showed significant improvement in cognitive performance on Hand-Eye Coordination, Global Visual Memory (GVM; working memory and long-term memory), Speed of Information Processing, Visual Scanning, and Naming. Indeed, individuals who did not engage in cognitive training showed no such improvements. Those results suggest that cognitive training is effective in improving cognitive performance and that it (and not mild aerobic training) is driving the improvement in the combined condition. Results are discussed in terms of the special circumstances of aerobic and cognitive training for older adults who are above 80 years of age.

Highlights

  • IntroductionOlder adults’ cognitive ability declines (Salthouse, 2004)

  • With increasing age, older adults’ cognitive ability declines (Salthouse, 2004)

  • Based on previous research, we hypothesized that an intervention combining physical activity with cognitive training would yield significantly larger cognitive benefits than single-domain interventions which trained physical activity or cognitive training separately

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Summary

Introduction

Older adults’ cognitive ability declines (Salthouse, 2004). Research shows declining ability in working memory, long-term memory (Park et al, 2002); dual-tasking, task-switching (Verhaeghen and Cerella, 2002), reasoning ability (Schaie, 1996), processing speed, and executive and attentional control (Salthouse, 2004). Many possible strategies to preserve or enhance cognitive function in older adults have been investigated. Evidence based on numerous investigations suggests that two kinds of interventions, cognitive training and physical activity training, enhance cognitive function in healthy older adults (review by Jak, 2011).

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