Abstract
BackgroundPhysical exercise has positive effects on cognitive function in elderly people. It is unknown, however, if combinations of non-pharmaceutical interventions can produce more benefits than single ones. This study aimed to identify if physical exercise combined with music improves cognitive function in normal elderly people more than exercise alone.MethodsWe enrolled 119 subjects (age 65–84 years old). Forty subjects performed physical exercise (once a week for an hour with professional trainers) with musical accompaniment (ExM group), developed by YAMAHA Music Foundation; 40 subjects performed the same exercise without music (Ex group); 39 subjects were the control group (Cont group). Before and after the year-long intervention, each patient was assessed by neuropsychological batteries. MRIs were performed before and after intervention; the Voxel-based Specific Regional analysis system for Alzheimer's Disease (VSRAD) was used to assess medial temporal lobe atrophy.ResultsAnalysis of variance (ANOVA) was significant only in visuospatial function. The multiple comparison (ExM vs. Ex, ExM vs. Cont, Ex vs. Cont) was significant between the ExM and Cont group. Intra-group analyses before and after intervention revealed significant improvement in visuospatial function in the ExM group, and significant improvements in other batteries in all three groups. The VSRAD score significantly worsened in the ExM and Ex groups.ConclusionsPhysical exercise combined with music produced more positive effects on cognitive function in elderly people than exercise alone. We attributed this improvement to the multifaceted nature of combining physical exercise with music, which can act simultaneously as both cognitive and physical training.Trial RegistrationUMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) UMIN000012148
Highlights
The positive effects of aerobic physical exercise on the prevention and occurrence of dementia have been well established
Hippocampal volume declined in the control group which only performed stretching exercise, the volume change in the caudate nucleus and thalamus was insignificant between the aerobic exercise and control stretching group
We recruited 80 subjects from 1st to 15th of July, 2011, and, according to age, sex, and grade of the activity of daily life (ADL-grade) which was established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the subjects were semi-randomly classified into two groups: physical exercise with music group (ExM; age 65– 83 years old; mean6sd 73.164.6; male 6, female 34; mean ADLgrade6sd 2.760.91) and exercise without music group (Ex; age 65–84 years old; mean6sd 73.364.8; male 5, female 35; mean activities of daily life (ADL)-grade6sd 2.760.98)
Summary
The positive effects of aerobic physical exercise on the prevention and occurrence of dementia have been well established. Hippocampal volume declined in the control group which only performed stretching exercise, the volume change in the caudate nucleus and thalamus was insignificant between the aerobic exercise and control stretching group. These studies demonstrate that aerobic physical activity can have protective and regenerative effects against cognitive decline [8], and physical activity is associated with improvement in attention [9] and executive function [10]. This study aimed to identify if physical exercise combined with music improves cognitive function in normal elderly people more than exercise alone
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