Effects of Two Short-Term Aerobic Exercises on Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults during COVID-19 Confinement in Japan: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of Nordic walking (aerobic exercise) and dance (dual-task training with aerobic exercise) on cognitive and physical functions in healthy older adults.
Results Summary
Both Nordic walking and dance improved executive function, but dance additionally enhanced global cognitive function, maximum gait speed, and imitation ability. Neither intervention significantly affected muscle mass or output compared to the control group.
Population
88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia.
Effective Dosage
30 minutes, three times per week.
Duration
4 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aerobic exercise | increase | executive function | - | - | improves | #1 |
dual-task training with aerobic exercise | increase | global cognitive function | - | - | improves | #2 |
Nordic walking (aerobic exercise) | increase | executive function | 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia | - | showed improvements | #3 |
dance (dual-task training with aerobic exercise) | increase | executive function | 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia | - | showed improvements | #4 |
dance (dual-task training with aerobic exercise) | increase | global cognitive function | 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia | - | showed additional improvement | #5 |
dance (dual-task training with aerobic exercise) | increase | maximum gait speed | 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia | - | showed a higher | #6 |
dance (dual-task training with aerobic exercise) | increase | imitation ability | 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia | - | showed greater improvement | #7 |
dance (dual-task training with aerobic exercise) | increase | executive function and cognitive function | 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia | - | improved | #8 |
Nordic walking (aerobic exercise) | no change | muscle mass or muscle output | 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia | - | did not significantly affect | #9 |
dance (dual-task training with aerobic exercise) | no change | muscle mass or muscle output | 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia | - | did not significantly affect | #10 |
Nordic walking (aerobic exercise) | increase | neurological functions such as the heel lift | 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia | - | improved | #11 |
dance (dual-task training with aerobic exercise) | increase | neurological functions such as the heel lift | 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia | - | improved | #12 |
dance training | increase | cognitive function | - | - | effectively improves | #13 |
Aerobic exercise improves executive function-which tends to decline with age-and dual-task training with aerobic exercise improves the global cognitive function. However, home-based older adults could not follow these programs due to social isolation during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Therefore, we conducted a single-blind randomized controlled trial with 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia who were randomly assigned into the Nordic walking (aerobic exercise), dance (dual-task training with aerobic exercise), or control group. The participants in both exercise intervention groups trained for 30 min, three times per week, for 4 weeks. All groups consumed amino acid-containing foods three times per week. We found that both exercise intervention groups showed improvements in executive function, while the dance group showed additional improvement in global cognitive function. The dance group showed a higher maximum gait speed, greater improvement in imitation ability, and improved executive function and cognitive function than the Nordic walking group. The intervention programs did not significantly affect the muscle mass or muscle output than the control group; however, both programs improved the participant neurological functions such as the heel lift, with dance training being the most effective intervention. In conclusion, dance training effectively improves cognitive function.