The Effect of a Multicomponent Dual-Task Exercise on Cortical Thickness in Older Adults with Cognitive Decline: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Seongryu Bae,Ippei Chiba,Kazuhiro Harada,Hyuntae Park,Kenji Harada,Hiroyuki Shimada,Sangyoon Lee,Keitaro Makino

doi:10.3390/jcm9051312

Seongryu Bae, Ippei Chiba + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9051312

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine cortical thickness changes associated with a multicomponent exercise intervention combining physical exercise and cognitive training in older adults with cognitive decline. This study involved a secondary analysis of neuroimaging data from a randomized controlled trial with 280 older adults having cognitive decline who were randomly assigned to either a multicomponent exercise group (n = 140) that attended weekly 90-minute exercise and cognitive training sessions or a health education control group (n = 140). The cortical thickness and cognitive performance were assessed at the baseline and at trial completion (10 months). The cortical thickness in the frontal and temporal regions was determined using FreeSurfer software. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool (NCGG-FAT). The cortical thickness significantly increased in the middle temporal (p < 0.001) and temporal pole (p < 0.001) in the multicomponent exercise group compared with the control group. Cortical thickness changes were significantly associated with change in trail making test (TMT)-A, TMT-B, and story memory after a 10-month multicomponent exercise intervention. This study suggests that multicomponent exercise programs combining physical exercise and cognitive training have important implications for brain health, especially in providing protection from age-related cortical thinning.

Highlights

According to the World Alzheimer Report, an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide had dementia in 2015, and this number is proposed to reach 131.5 million by 2050 [1]
Evidence suggests that physical exercise improves cognitive function [8,9] and increases hippocampal volume, and grey and white matter volume density in both healthy older adults and adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) [10,11,12]
The current study aimed to examine cortical thickness changes associated with a 10-month single-blinded Randomized controlled trials (RCT) of multicomponent exercise intervention under dual-task conditions in older adults with cognitive decline

Summary

Introduction

According to the World Alzheimer Report, an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide had dementia in 2015, and this number is proposed to reach 131.5 million by 2050 [1]. Substantial research efforts are focusing on the use of non-pharmacological interventions for dementia, including cognitive training, physical exercise, and music therapy [2,3,4]. Non-pharmacological interventions may maintain or decrease the rate of cognitive decline in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early stage dementia [5]. The National Institutes of Health consensus panel on dementia reported that physical activity is the only intervention with sufficient evidence for recommendation as a preventative measure for cognitive decline [7]. Evidence suggests that physical exercise improves cognitive function [8,9] and increases hippocampal volume, and grey and white matter volume density in both healthy older adults and adults diagnosed with MCI [10,11,12]. Previous studies have reported that cognitive training improving cognitive function in older adults is related to the inhibition of hippocampal atrophy [15] and reduced brain beta-amyloid burden [16]

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