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Physical, mental activities improved cognitive function in older adults

Inactive older adults who participated in a dual physical/mental exercise program experienced significant improvements in cognitive function, according to new data published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

“There is growing evidence that both physical and mental activity can improve cognitive function in the short term and may lower the risk of developing dementia over the long term,” the researchers wrote.

Deborah E. Barnes, PhD, MPH, of the University of California at San Francisco, and colleagues conducted the Mental Activity and eXercise (MAX) trial to study the effects of an intervention that consisted of performing intensive visual and audio tasks on a computer, in addition to group aerobic exercises. Both activities were completed 1 hour a day, 3 days a week for 12 weeks.

A total of 126 inactive older adults (mean age, 73.4 years) participated in the study and were randomly assigned to four groups: the mental activity intervention or a mental activity control exercise in which participants watched DVDs of educational lectures on art, history and science, plus the physical activity intervention or a physical activity control exercise of stretching and toning.

All participants completed a battery of neuropsychological tests.

There were no significant differences in cognitive scores between the four groups. However, global cognitive scores in the intervention group improved over time (P<.001).

Since all groups participated in both mental and physical activities for an equal amount of time, and cognitive scores were comparable between intervention and control groups, the amount of activity may be more important in improving cognitive function rather than the type of activity, according to the researchers.

“Behavioral interventions offer a potential strategy to prevent or delay dementia onset with minimal adverse effects in asymptomatic individuals,” the researchers wrote.

Disclosure: Computers and related software used in the study were donated by Posit Science. Exercise space and equipment were provided by the Stonestown YMCA in San Francisco.