The Effects of 12-Week Dual-Task Physical–Cognitive Training on Gait, Balance, Lower Extremity Muscle Strength, and Cognition in Older Adult Women: A Randomized Study

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of dual-task physical–cognitive the training on body balance (BB), gait performance (GP), lower limb muscle strength (LEMS), and cognitive performance (CP) in a group of cognitively normal older adult women (n = 44; 66.20 ± 4.05 years). Of these, 22 were randomly allocated to the dual-task training (DT) group, and 22 participated in the control group (CG). Assessments were performed at baseline, after 12 weeks of intervention, and at the end of 12 weeks of follow-up, using the following instruments: Timed Up & Go (TUG), Timed Up & Go manual (TUGm), Timed Up & Go cognitive (TUGc), Balance Test (TEC), sit-to-stand test (STS), and verbal fluency test (VF). After 12 weeks of DT training, participants showed a significant time × group interaction in all motor assessments (BB, GP, LEMS), as well as in three cognitive tests (VF-grouping, VF-exchange, VF-total). No time–group interaction effect was indicated for the VF-category test. At all evaluation times, CG members maintained constant physical and cognitive performance. We conclude that 12 weeks of physical–cognitive DT training was effective in promoting BB, GP, and LEMS, as well as CP in cognitively normal older adult women, with lasting effects up to 12 weeks after the intervention.

Effects of Multi-Task Mode on Cognition and Lower Limb Function in Frail Older Adults: A Systematic Search and Review

“…A total of 11 studies [20,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] were finally included. All studies chose the cognitivemotor MT mode, and most of the intervention programs were in the form of DT balance training combined with cognitive tasks such as counting, memorizing, naming and video games, etc.…”

“…Only one study [38] reported the use of MT training (e.g., walking to music and responding to changes in the rhythmic patterns of the music). In terms of intervention duration, six studies [20,30,[33][34][35]39] reported intervention durations of 3 to 6 months, four studies [31,32,36,37] reported intervention durations shorter than 3 months, and one MT training study [38] reported a 6-month intervention. Meanwhile, in terms of intervention frequency, 10 study protocols used a frequency of one to three times per week, and only 1 study [39] opted for DT training five times a week.…”

“…Among the studies reporting results on muscle function and balance, most demonstrated that MT training significantly improved balance and muscle function in frail older adults, but five studies [30,31,[35][36][37] found no significant differences in some of the muscle function indicators (handgrip strength, gait speed and 6-min walking test), and three studies [30,36,37] found no significant differences in some of the balance indicators (TUGT, SPPB, inclination angle and Tinetti test). In addition, nine studies [20,30,31,[33][34][35][36][37]39] reported on cognitive function, mainly using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) as indicators, and only a few studies [34][35][36] used the verbal reaction time, rate of response and verbal fluency test to assess cognitive outcomes (Table 2). Note: TUGT, time up and go test; MoCA, Montreal cognitive assessment; M, male; FE, female; PF, pre-frail; F: frail; NF, non-frail; MCI, mild cognitive impairment; PC, preserved cognition; NMCI, non-mild cognitive impairment; FS, frail with sarcopenia; D1, the first dual-task group; D2, the second dual-task group; UEFM, upper-extremity function measurement; 8UGT, the 8-foot up and go test; D3, the third dual-task group; G1, walking time, number of steps, percentage of lateral line stepping-over and stops; TUGT-DT, timed up and go test associated with a motor-cognitive task; DTC, dual-task cost; G2, gait speed, step length, step length variability, stance and swing phase time, single and double support, cadence, step time variability and gait speed variability; ↑, raise and improve; ↓, decrease; -, no statistically significant effects.…”

“…Eleven MT training studies included a total of 911 subjects, six studies [30,33,34,36,37,39] did not report the gender of the subjects, and the remaining studies included a total of 95 male and 320 female subjects. With regard to the age of the subjects, four studies [30,32,35,37] had subjects aged 80 years or older, three studies [31,38,39] involved subjects over 70 years, and the remaining four studies only mentioned subjects over the age of 60 years.…”

“…With regard to the age of the subjects, four studies [30,32,35,37] had subjects aged 80 years or older, three studies [31,38,39] involved subjects over 70 years, and the remaining four studies only mentioned subjects over the age of 60 years. Concerning the year of the study publication, among the included studies, eight studies [20,[30][31][32][33][34][35]39] related to MT training were published in the past 5 years, and the application of MT training in frail older adults has received more attention from researchers in recent years (Table 2).…”