A combination of cognitive training and physical exercise for elderly with the mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conduct systematic reviews on Indonesian papers, to examine the most recent evidence of the efficacy of the combination of cognitive training and physical exercise, and to make recommendations in order to improve prevention, care and treatment services in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design/methodology/approach The databases of Cochrane, Medline, NIH (US National Library Medicine), ProQuest, EbscoHost, Clinical Key, EMBASE, Medical Librarian (TWE) in Ovid, Science Direct, Scopus, The Lancet Global Health, PubMed, Emerald, Indonesian National Library, Google Scholar, Google Indonesia, and Garuda Portal were systematically searched using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to obtain empirical papers published between June 1976 and January 2018. Findings Out of the 3,293 articles collected, 10 were included in this analysis. The result of this combined meta-analysis compares the combination therapy group (cognitive therapy and physical exercise) with a control group. It shows that the control group was likely to experience MCI 1.65 times more often than the combination therapy group. According to the result acquired from the synthesized meta-analysis, the control group experienced MCI 1.65 times higher than the combination therapy. The finding is proven to be statistically significant (95% CI= 1.42–1.93). Research limitations/implications The research considers only English and Indonesian articles. Practical implications It is important to explore the most effective training characteristics in a special combined intervention differentiated by the duration, frequency, intervention, type and combination mode. There is a need for further investigation that focuses on the physiological mechanisms underlying the positive effects, by inserting a more comprehensive neuro-imaging measurement to assess specifically the domain that benefits in terms of cognitive functions and molecular markers. Finally, exploratory studies are definitely required, which will specifically examine maintenance and treatment effects as well as derive theoretical explanations related to the interventions and predictors. Social implications A combination of cognitive training and physical exercise intervention may improve the global health or cognitive functions. Originality/value A combination of cognitive training and physical exercise has been found to improve prevention, care and treatment services in elderly patients with MCI. There is an increase in value in comparison to the study of Karssemeijer, which considered five Indonesian articles.

An Investigation of Limbs Exercise as a Treatment in Improving the Psychomotor Speed in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

“…In our study, the patients with MCI had mean finger tap frequencies of 45.00 for the left hand and 48.39 for the right hand, compared with an average of 37 per 10 seconds measured among healthy Chinese adults aged >45 years [31,32,33]. In other words, PS was far lower in the patients with MCI than in healthy adults.…”

“…Although several studies have investigated the beneficial effects of different types of physical exercises (e.g., Tai Chi, bowling/croquet, cycling, resistance training, waling, psychomotor exercises and aerobic exercises) on psychomotor and cognitive functions in old age [24,25,32,33], previous studies have rarely reported using a structured therapeutic psychomotor limbs-exercise programme as a treatment on the effects of older adults with MCI who reside in urban communities and nursing homes. In addition, singular exercise training methods have been used in previous studies, and the conventional content designs of these methods have frequently neglected mind and body related exercises and PS, a sensitive indicator of cognitive function.…”

Multimodal strategy to rescue the brain in mild cognitive impairment: Ketogenic oral nutrition supplementation with B vitamins and aerobic exercise

“…These results suggest two different beneficial effects of AE in managing MCI 10 . Interventions combining cognitive training and AE were also reported as potentially enhancing the intellectual and physical performance of adults with MCI, although further studies are needed to differentiate the contribution from each component 11 …”

The effects of high versus low frequency of combined physical and cognitive training on cognitive function in older adults with cognitive decline: a quasi-experimental study

“…Similarly, we also chose the minimal number of sessions (1 session/week) for the LF group. We determined from previous studies that combined physical exercise and cognitive training for 90 to 120 min per session for at least 12 weeks seems to lead to significant improvements in cognitive performance [ 17 , 18 ]. Thus, training in the HF group consisted of a 90- to 105 min session three times weekly for 12 weeks, whereas training in the LF group consisted of a 90- to 105-min session once weekly for 12 weeks.…”