Impact of baseline daily physical activity on cognitive and physical effects of lifestyle multidomain intervention: The SUPERBRAIN study

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundIn the South Korean study to prevent cognitive impairment and protect brain health through lifestyle intervention in at‐risk elderly people (SUPERBRAIN), we explored impact of baseline daily physical activity on cognitive and physical effects of 24‐week lifestyle multidomain intervention.MethodA total of 152 participants, aged 60‐79 years without dementia but with ≥ 1 modifiable dementia risk factor, were randomly assigned to the facility‐based multidomain intervention (FMI), and home‐based MI (HMI), or control groups. Among them, 82 participants (27 FMI, 34 HMI, and 21 control) took their physical activity for 7 days using the accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+, FL, USA) at baseline. We divided 61 participants in the FMI or HMI into two groups according to their physical activity at baseline: Group I who met WHO physical activity guidelines for older adults (more than 150 minutes of moderate activity per week) and Group Ⅱ who did not meet the guidelines. We compared changes of cognitive and physical measures after 24‐week intervention between group I and Group Ⅱ. Cognitive function was measured using the total sale index score of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the physical fitness was measured by the hand grip strength test, 30 s sit‐to‐stand test, 3 m sit–walk‐and‐return test, sit‐and‐reach test, 2‐min stationary march, and Figure‐8‐walks. Due to not satisfying the normality test, the nonparametric tests Mann‐Whitney and Wilcoxon were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics25.ResultGroups I and II had no significant difference in the baseline total sale index score of the RBANS, whereas the group I had a higher physical fitness at baseline (sit‐and‐reach test and 3m sit‐walk‐and‐return test <0.05; Figure‐8‐walks <0.01). After the intervention, only Group I showed significant improvement in the total sale index score of the RBANS. Both groups were significantly improved in 30 s sit‐to‐stand test, 2‐min stationary march, and Figure‐8‐walks. However, hand grip strength was improved in only Group I.ConclusionSignificant improvement in both cognitive and physical function in at‐risk but active elderly without substantial impairment in the SUPERBRAIN suggest that preventive strategies may be more beneficial on cognitive and physical function in active older adults.