AUTHOR=Adcock Manuela , Fankhauser Mélanie , Post Jennifer , Lutz Kai , Zizlsperger Leopold , Luft Andreas R. , Guimarães Vânia , Schättin Alexandra , de Bruin Eling D. 

TITLE=Effects of an In-home Multicomponent Exergame Training on Physical Functions, Cognition, and Brain Volume of Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2019.00321

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2019.00321

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p>Aging is associated with a decline in physical functions, cognition and brain structure. Considering that human life is based on an inseparable physical-cognitive interplay, combined physical-cognitive training through exergames is a promising approach to counteract age-related impairments. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of an in-home multicomponent exergame training on [i] physical and cognitive functions and [ii] brain volume of older adults compared to a usual care control group. Thirty-seven healthy and independently living older adults aged 65 years and older were randomly assigned to an intervention (exergame training) or a control (usual care) group. Over 16 weeks, the participants of the intervention group absolved three home-based exergame sessions per week (à 30–40 min) including Tai Chi-inspired exercises, dancing and step-based cognitive games. The control participants continued with their normal daily living. Pre- and post-measurements included assessments of physical (gait parameters, functional muscle strength, balance, aerobic endurance) and cognitive (processing speed, short-term attention span, working memory, inhibition, mental flexibility) functions. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was conducted to assess brain volume. Thirty-one participants (mean age = 73.9 ± 6.4 years, range = 65–90 years, 16 female) completed the study. Inhibition and working memory significantly improved post-intervention in favor of the intervention group [inhibition: <italic>F</italic><sub>(1)</sub> = 2.537, <italic>p</italic> = 0.046, <inline-formula><mml:math id="M1" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msubsup><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>n</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>p</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msubsup></mml:math></inline-formula> = 0.11, working memory: <italic>F</italic><sub>(1)</sub> = 5.872, <italic>p</italic> = 0.015, <inline-formula><mml:math id="M2" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msubsup><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>n</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>p</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msubsup></mml:math></inline-formula> = 0.02]. Two measures of short-term attentional span showed improvements after training in favor of the control group [F<sub>(1)</sub> = 4.309, <italic>p</italic> = 0.038, <inline-formula><mml:math id="M3" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msubsup><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>n</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>p</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msubsup></mml:math></inline-formula> = 0.03, <italic>F</italic><sub>(1)</sub> = 8.504, <italic>p</italic> = 0.004, <inline-formula><mml:math id="M4" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msubsup><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>n</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>p</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msubsup></mml:math></inline-formula> = 0.04]. No significant training effects were evident for physical functions or brain volume. Both groups exhibited a significant decrease in gray matter volume of frontal areas and the hippocampus over time. The findings indicate a positive influence of exergame training on executive functioning. No improvements in physical functions or brain volume were evident in this study. Better adapted individualized training challenge and a longer training period are suggested. Further studies are needed that assess training-related structural brain plasticity and its effect on performance, daily life functioning and healthy aging.</p>