Effects of Aquatic Motor Intervention on Verbal Working Memory and Brain Activity—A Pilot Study

Background Aquatic motor intervention has been found to be effective in reducing falls and improving verbal working memory among the general population. However, effects among older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) have never been explored. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of aquatic motor intervention on fall risk and verbal working memory among older adults with ID. Methods Forty-one older adults with mild to moderate ID (age: 50-66 years) were randomly assigned to 14 weeks of aquatic motor intervention (Ai Chi: N = 19) or identical on-land motor intervention (Tai Chi: N = 22). Fall risk, measured with the Tinetti balance assessment tool (TBAT), and verbal working memory, measured with the digit span forward test, were assessed pre-intervention, after 7 weeks of intervention and post-intervention.Results Study results indicate positive effects of both aquatic and on-land motor intervention on TBAT fall risk score, while the aquatic motor intervention group improved TBAT fall risk score quicker as compared with the on-land motor intervention group. Moreover, the lower the pre-intervention TBAT score was,

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“…Improved verbal working memory was positively correlated with increased right cerebellar alpha power (Nissim et al . ).…”

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confidence: 97%

A walk on water: comparing the influence of Ai Chi and Tai Chi on fall risk and verbal working memory in ageing people with intellectual disabilities – a randomised controlled trial

Nissim

Hutzler

Goldstein

2019

J intellect Disabil Res

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“…Yet, there are few studies examining the effects of Aquatic Physical Intervention (API) on cognitive abilities (32)(33)(34)(35) and functional behaviors (36)(37).…”

Section: Date Of Registration: 10/31/2017mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of aquatic physical intervention on fall risk, working memory and hazard-perception as pedestrians in older people: a pilot trial

Nissim

Livny

Barmatz

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Normal aging is associated with balance, mobility and working memory decline that increase fall risk and influence activity of daily living functions. Mounting evidence suggests that physical activity is beneficial for decreasing aging effects. Previous studies have focused on land-based physical activity. Research concerning the aquatic environment is scarce. The primary objectives of this three arm intervention pilot study were to examine the effects of an aquatic physical intervention program on balance, gait, fall risk and working memory among community-dwelling older individuals. The secondary objective was to examine the effects of an aquatic physical intervention program on safety of street–crossing among community-dwelling older individuals. Methods: Forty-two healthy participants aged 65 or older were enrolled into one of three intervention groups: aquatic physical intervention (API) (N=13), on-land physical intervention (OLPI) (N=14) or non-physical intervention (NPI) (N=15). The intervention took place from 2018 until 2019 at Tel-Aviv University, Sheba medical center and Reich Center. The protocol included 30-minute sessions twice a week for 12 weeks. Balance, gait and fall risk were assessed by the Tinneti test, working memory abilities were assessed by digit span and Corsi blocks tests and simulated safe streets-crossing was assessed by the hazard perception test for pedestrians.Testing and data collection was conducted at baseline, after six weeks and 12 weeks of intervention. All members of the professional team involved in evaluating participants were blind to the intervention group to which participants were allocated. Results: The differences in Tinetti balance (F(2,39)=10.03, p<0.01), fall risk (F(2,39)=5.62, p0>.05), digit span forward (F(2,39)=8.85, p<0.01) and Corsi blocks forward (F(2,39)=3.54, p<0.05) and backward (F(2,39)=6.50, p<0.05) scores after 12 weeks between the groups were significant. The API group showed improved scores. The differences in hazard perception test for pedestrians scores after 12 weeks of intervention between the groups were marginally significant (F(2,39)=3.13, p=0.055). The API group showed improved scores. Conclusions: These findings may affect experts working with the elderly population when making decisions concerning therapeutic prevention interventions for the deficiencies of elderly patients. Older adults practicing aquatic physical activity could contribute to their increased safety. Trial registrationTrial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry NCT03510377. Date of registration: 10/31/2017

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“…The improvement in verbal working memory was correlated with increased right cerebellar alpha power (r = 0.39, p < 0.05, n = 24). Greater cerebellar alpha power was correlated with improved performance in the digit span task [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Ai-Chi Practice on Balance and Left Cerebellar Activation during High Working Memory Load Task in Older People: A Controlled Pilot Trial

Nissim

Livny

Barmatz

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Background: Normal aging is associated with balance and working memory decline. From a neurobiological standpoint, changes in cerebellar functional plasticity may mediate the decline in balance and working memory for older adults. Mounting evidence suggests that physical activity is beneficial for decreasing aging effects. Previous studies have focused on land-based physical activity and research concerning the aquatic environment is scarce. This study investigated the effectiveness of Ai-Chi on balance abilities and cerebral activation during a high working memory load task among community-dwelling older people. Methods: A total of 19 people aged 65–86 years were allocated to receive Ai-Chi practice (n = 6), structured on-land Ai-Chi practice (n = 7) or guided-imagery of Ai-Chi practice (n = 6) for a bi-weekly, 30-min exercise session for 12 weeks. Balance was measured by the Tinetti balance sub-test and working memory was measured by the N-back test during functional-MRI scan. Results: The Ai-Chi practice group presented a significant change in balance between pre and post intervention (balance t = −4.8, p < 0.01). In the whole-brain analysis, during high working memory load task, the Ai-Chi practice group presented a decrease in left cerebellar activation. Region of interest analyses yielded similar results by which pre-cerebellar activation was higher than post-intervention (t = 2.77, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Ai-Chi is an available, non-invasive intervention method that may serve as a tool to improve cerebellar activation that in turn might improve balance. In addition, our findings may provide new insights into the neuronal mechanisms that underlie both motor and cognitive abilities.

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Effects of Aquatic Motor Intervention on Verbal Working Memory and Brain Activity—A Pilot Study

Cited by 6 publications

References 67 publications

A walk on water: comparing the influence of Ai Chi and Tai Chi on fall risk and verbal working memory in ageing people with intellectual disabilities – a randomised controlled trial

A walk on water: comparing the influence of Ai Chi and Tai Chi on fall risk and verbal working memory in ageing people with intellectual disabilities – a randomised controlled trial

Effects of aquatic physical intervention on fall risk, working memory and hazard-perception as pedestrians in older people: a pilot trial

Effects of Ai-Chi Practice on Balance and Left Cerebellar Activation during High Working Memory Load Task in Older People: A Controlled Pilot Trial

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