This paper provides a systematic review of current research findings using exergaming as a treatment for improving cognition and dual-task function in older adults. A literature search was conducted to collect exergaming intervention studies that were either randomized controlled or uncontrolled studies. Of the seven identified studies (five randomized controlled studies and two uncontrolled studies), three studies focused on cognitive function alone, two studies focused on dual-task function alone, and two studies measured both cognitive function and dual-task function. Current evidence supports that exergaming improves cognitive function and dual-task function, which potentially leads to fall prevention. However, it is unclear whether exergaming, which involves both cognitive input and physical exercise, has additional benefits compared with traditional physical exercise alone. Further studies should include traditional exercise as a control group to identify these potential, additional benefits.
Search Results
Potential Benefits of Exergaming for Cognition and Dual-Task Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Elisa F. Ogawa, Tongjian You, and Suzanne G. Leveille
A Review of Childhood Physical Activity, Brain, and Cognition: Perspectives on the Future
Charles H. Hillman and John R. Biggan
This manuscript, which arose from the inaugural Tom Rowland Lecture Series at the 2016 North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine conference, provides a brief descriptive review of what is known (i.e., the state of the science) regarding the relation of childhood physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) to brain health, cognition, and academic outcomes. Gaps in the knowledgebase are identified, including characteristics of the PA stimulus that promotes changes in brain and cognition, whether critical periods in development exist in which PA/CRF may have a disproportionately large influence, the understanding of individual difference factors, and the influence upon learning. Lastly, several possible directions for future research are proposed. Although the field of childhood PA, CRF, brain, and cognition is rapidly expanding, there is considerable room for future growth. This manuscript may be helpful in shaping that future growth, with the goal of improving lifelong health and effective functioning.
Run for Your Life! Childhood Physical Activity Effects on Brain and Cognition
Charles H. Hillman, Kirk I. Erickson, and Bradley D. Hatfield
The past two decades have uncovered the beneficial relation of physical activity and other health behaviors on brain and cognition, with the majority of data emerging from older adult populations. More recently, a similar research thread has emerged in school-aged children, which offers insight into the relation of physical activity to scholastic performance, providing a real-world application of the benefits observed in the laboratory. Technological advances have similarly furthered our understanding of physical activity effects on cognitive and brain health. Given this emerging body of work, this manuscript reviews the basic findings within the field, but more importantly suggests triggers or signals from the emerging literature that will shape the field in the near future. The overall goal of this body of research is to increase cognitive and brain health to promote effective functioning of individuals across the lifespan.
Differences in Timed Up and Go Subtasks Between Older People With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Alzheimer’s Disease
Juliana Hotta Ansai, Larissa Pires de Andrade, Paulo Giusti Rossi, Theresa Helissa Nakagawa, Francisco Assis Carvalho Vale, and José Rubens Rebelatto
accelerometers between AD and preserved cognition (PC) groups and between AD and MCI groups, without any distinction between PC and MCI groups. TUGT is widely used in clinical practice; however, this test has some limitations, including the analysis of total time and the main focus in time and not in other
Associations Between Physical and Executive Functions Among Community-Dwelling Older Men and Women
Anna Tirkkonen, Jenni Kulmala, Tuomo Hänninen, Timo Törmäkangas, Anna Stigsdotter Neely, and Sarianna Sipilä
determinants alone ( Grande et al., 2020 ). Poor cognition, especially poor performance in executive functions, that is, higher level functions that allow flexible goal-directed action and problem solving, has been found to be associated with slow gait speed ( Morris, Lord, Bunce, Burn, & Rochester, 2016
The Effects of Low-Intensity Multimodal Proprioceptive Exercise on Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Spencer E. Boyle, Melissa A. Fothergill, John Metcalfe, Sarah Docherty, and Crystal F. Haskell-Ramsay
multicomponent training appeared to affect inhibitory capacity directly, 9 suggesting different mechanisms underlying the effect following different modalities. A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials indicated domain-specific effects on cognition following different
Predictors of Usual and Peak Gait Speed in Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Dementia
Dereck L. Salisbury, Molly Maxfield, Rodney P. Joseph, David Coon, Jinjiao Wang, Junxin Li, and Fang Yu
slower usual gait speed and reduced motor control, compared with cognitively intact older adults ( Goldman et al., 1999 ; Sheridan & Hausdorff, 2007 ). Previous studies have linked cognition and usual gait speed, but these associations are not fully understood in the context of AD ( Dyer et al., 2020
Effects of Exercise in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Alexandro Andrade, Thais Cristina Siqueira, Anderson D’Oliveira, and Fábio Hech Dominski
-care abilities, daily functionality, mood and behavior, episodic memory, global cognition, physical function, QoL, caregiver burden, functional, emotional, social changes, greater behavioral coherence, well-being, language abilities, memory, orientation, depression, anxiety, motor skills, transferring
Physical Activity and Hormone-Replacement Therapy: Interactive Effects on Cognition?
Jennifer L. Etnier and Benjamin A. Sibley
The purpose of this study was to examine the interactive effects of hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) and physical activity (PA) on the cognitive performance of older women. Postmenopausal women (n = 101) were recruited to complete a PA questionnaire, provide demographic information, and perform the digit-symbol substitution task (DSST) and the trail-making tests (TMT). Regression analyses were conducted for participants with complete data for each cognitive test (DSST n = 62; TMT n = 69). For both tasks, results indicated that PA and education were positively related and age was negatively related to cognitive performance. The interaction of HRT with PA did not add to the predicted variance of either measure of cognitive performance. This was true even after limiting the HRT users to women using unopposed estrogen. It is concluded that the beneficial relationship between PA and these two measures of cognitive performance in postmenopausal women exists irrespective of HRT use.
Relationship Between Physical Activity, Adiposity, and Attentional Inhibition
Nicholas W. Baumgartner, Anne M. Walk, Caitlyn G. Edwards, Alicia R. Covello, Morgan R. Chojnacki, Ginger E. Reeser, Andrew M. Taylor, Hannah D. Holscher, and Naiman A. Khan
processing speed, 9 and lower gray matter volume. 10 These negative effects appear to selectively impact brain regions important for cognition and learning, including the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex. 11 , 12 Further, obesity-related inflammation, often found in peripheral
