Does a real-life cognitively enriched walking program "Take a walk with your brain" benefit cognitive functioning and physical activity in community-dwelling older adults? A randomized controlled trial.
Pauline Hotterbeex, Greet Cardon, Melanie Beeckman, Julie Latomme, Wim Fias, Stef van Puyenbroeck, Sebastien Chastin, Jannique van Uffelen
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Abstract
Background and objectives: Most studies examining combined cognitive and physical activity are conducted in laboratory settings. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) examines the effects of a real-life cognitively enriched walking program on cognitive functioning and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in adults aged ≥65 years.
Research design and methods: A three-arm RCT was conducted, comparing the cognitively enriched walking program (WALK+, doing cognitive tasks while walking) with a walking program without enrichment (WALK-only) and a passive control condition (CONT). Both WALK+ and WALK-only had a duration of six months, with two outdoors, supervised group-based sessions/week (60-90 minutes/session). Cognitive functioning (short- and long-term memory, executive functioning and processing speed) and MVPA were measured at baseline, three, six and 12 months using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers respectively.
Results: A total of 148 community-dwelling adults (median age: 69 years, range: 65-85; 72% (n=107) female) were included. Comparing WALK+ to WALK-only and CONT, and WALK-only to CONT, there were no significant intervention effects on cognitive functioning at three, six or 12 months. MVPA decreased with 13 minutes/day in WALK+ between baseline and 12 months, whilst it increased between baseline and six months with 12 minutes/day in WALK-only and between three and six months with 16 minutes/day in CONT.
Discussion and implications: The WALK+ program did not lead to statistically significant benefits for cognitive functioning or MVPA compared to WALK-only or CONT. Future studies should explore for whom combined interventions may work and determine the optimal dosage.
期刊介绍：
The Gerontologist, published since 1961, is a bimonthly journal of The Gerontological Society of America that provides a multidisciplinary perspective on human aging by publishing research and analysis on applied social issues. It informs the broad community of disciplines and professions involved in understanding the aging process and providing care to older people. Articles should include a conceptual framework and testable hypotheses. Implications for policy or practice should be highlighted. The Gerontologist publishes quantitative and qualitative research and encourages manuscript submissions of various types including: research articles, intervention research, review articles, measurement articles, forums, and brief reports. Book and media reviews, International Spotlights, and award-winning lectures are commissioned by the editors.
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