Evaluating the Clinical Efficacy of an Exergame-Based Training Program for Enhancing Physical and Cognitive Functions in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Residing in Rural Long-Term Care Facilities: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment is an important public health challenge among older adults, particularly in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), where prevalence is higher due to staffing shortages, limited resources, and difficulty maintaining structured exercise programs. Furthermore, older adults often lose interest in repetitive interventions. The exergame "WarioWare: Move It!" (Nintendo) offers a novel solution by combining aerobic exercise, motor coordination, balance training, and cognitive engagement into an immersive experience.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of an exergame-based training program delivered via "WarioWare: Move It!" in improving physical flexibility, joint range of motion, motor coordination, hand dexterity, and cognitive function in older adults living in LTCFs.

Methods: The training program was conducted across multiple rural LTCFs in Shanxi Province, China. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention protocol encompassed two 60-minute sessions per week over 12 weeks, using motion-sensing exercises such as waving, jumping, arm swinging, rotational movements, and object-mimicking postures with Joy-Con controllers. Primary outcome measures were derived through clinical tests, including the sit and reach test, shoulder flexibility test, trunk rotation flexibility test, shoulder and elbow range of motion, figure-of-8 walk test, standing balance test, hand dexterity test, and cognitive function tests. Statistical analysis was performed using mixed ANOVA, with time as the within-participant factor and intervention group as the between-participant factor, to assess the training effects on the various outcome measures.

Results: A total of 232 participants were recruited, including 32 (13.8%) patients with mild dementia, 18 (7.8%) with moderate dementia, and 182 (78.4%) with mild cognitive impairment, all of whom completed the study. The mixed ANOVA revealed significant group × time interactions across multiple physical flexibility assessments, including the remaining distance between the hands and toes during the forward bend (F_2,156=8.484; P<.001; η²=0.098), the distance between the hands clasped behind the back (F_2,156=3.666; P=.04; η²=0.045), and the angle formed by trunk rotation to the left and right (F_2,156=17.353; P<.001; η²=0.182). Significant group × time interactions also emerged for shoulder joint forward flexion (F_2,156=17.655; P<.001; η²=0.185), abduction (F_2,156=6.281; P=.004; η²=0.075), and elbow flexion (F_2,156=3.298; P=.049; η²=0.041). In addition, the time to complete the figure-of-8 walk test (F_2,156=11.846; P<.001; η²=0.132) and the number of blocks moved within 1 minute (F_2,156=4.016; P=.02; η²=0.049) showed significant interactions. Finally, all scale-based measures exhibited statistically significant group × time interactions (all P values <.001).

Conclusions: The "WarioWare: Move It!" intervention significantly improved physical flexibility, joint range of motion, motor coordination, hand dexterity, and cognitive function among older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia residing in rural LTCFs. The intervention offers an innovative and feasible approach for promoting the health of older adults in resource-limited settings, demonstrating its potential for widespread application in diverse low-resource environments.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06717971; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06717971.