A combination of physical activity and computerized brain training improves verbal memory and increases cerebral glucose metabolism in the elderly

Abstract

Physical exercise interventions and cognitive training programs have individually been reported to improve cognition in the healthy elderly population; however, the clinical significance of using a combined approach is currently lacking. This study evaluated whether physical activity (PA), computerized cognitive training and/or a combination of both could improve cognition. In this nonrandomized study, 224 healthy community-dwelling older adults (60–85 years) were assigned to 16 weeks home-based PA (n=64), computerized cognitive stimulation (n=62), a combination of both (combined, n=51) or a control group (n=47). Cognition was assessed using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test and the CogState computerized battery at baseline, 8 and 16 weeks post intervention. Physical fitness assessments were performed at all time points. A subset (total n=45) of participants underwent [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans at 16 weeks (post-intervention). One hundred and ninety-one participants completed the study and the data of 172 participants were included in the final analysis. Compared with the control group, the combined group showed improved verbal episodic memory and significantly higher brain glucose metabolism in the left sensorimotor cortex after controlling for age, sex, premorbid IQ, apolipoprotein E (APOE) status and history of head injury. The higher cerebral glucose metabolism in this brain region was positively associated with improved verbal memory seen in the combined group only. Our study provides evidence that a specific combination of physical and mental exercises for 16 weeks can improve cognition and increase cerebral glucose metabolism in cognitively intact healthy older adults.

Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Commercially Available Computerized Cognitive Training Among Older Adults

“…Two studies did not provide data to conduct the metaanalysis. Three studies were not included because only eventrelated potential data were presented (Anderson et al 2013;Berry et al 2010), and one study only provided metabolic data (Shah et al 2014). Thus, 21 studies were included in analysis.…”

Promoting brain health through exercise and diet in older adults: a physiological perspective

“…In humans, a 16 week intervention including unsupervised physical activity, computer based brain training, or both found that older adults (60-85 years) who completed both training types had significantly higher long-term verbal memory compared to the control group (Shah et al 2014). Intervention studies that have included physical activity, cognition and emotional or cultural training have suggested that the combination of physical and cognitive training can improve both cognitive performance and functional outcomes in healthy older adults (Oswald et al 2006;Pieramico et al 2012), although this difference disappears when physical and cognitive activity interventions are compared to an active control group (Lautenschlager & Cox, 2013;D.…”

The central role of heat shock factor 1 in synaptic fidelity and memory consolidation

“…Exercise also increases neuronal dendrite spine formation and synaptic proteins (Lin et al 2012). In humans, observational and interventional studies found associations of exercise with beneficial cognitive effects in Alzheimer patients or elderly subjects (Rolland et al 2000;Laurin et al 2001;Shah et al 2014;Vidoni et al 2015).…”