Cognitive change is more positively associated with an active lifestyle than with training interventions in older adults at risk of dementia: a controlled interventional clinical trial

Küster, Olivia C.; Fissler, Patrick; Laptinskaya, Daria; Thurm, Franka; Scharpf, Andrea; Wöll, Alexander; Kolassa, Stephan; Kramer, Arthur F.; Elbert, Thomas; Arnim, Christine A. F. Von; Kolassa, Iris Tatjana

doi:10.1186/s12888-016-1018-z

Cited by 47 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Furthermore, an active lifestyle includes the variety of physical, cognitive and social activities. Also, a stronger relationship of lifestyle with memory, but not with other cognitive functions like for example executive functions [5]. The relevance of lifestyle factors is in line with another meta-analysis [6] showing that cognitively stimulating leisure activities may contribute to a reduced risk of cognitive impairment in later life.…”

Section: Commentarysupporting

confidence: 55%

“…Küster et al [5] showed, in a controlled intervention study, that a cognitive improvement in older adults at risk of dementia is more positively associated with an active cognitive lifestyle as with a specific cognitive or physical training program. More specifically, adults with an active lifestyle as measured by their physical, cognitive and social activity, showed an improvement in cognitive performance after ten weeks compared to individuals with a less active lifestyle.…”

Section: Commentarymentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Need to Find the Personal Lifestyle Factor Counteracting Cognitive Decline in Normal Aging

Jansen¹

2017

J Gerontol Geriatr Res

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CommentaryIn the last years, much research focuses on the possible influence of physical activity on cognitive decline. Retrospective studies with healthy older people show that long lasting physical activity may reduce the risk for this decline. Prospective studies supply, in part, results arguing in favor of the efficacy of physical activity regarding cognition. One of the first meta-analysis was the one of Colcombe and Kramer [1]. They analyzed the effects of different trainings on executive, controlled, spatial, and speed tasks. The authors showed a higher improvement of the physical trainings groups compared to the control groups, especially in executive tasks. Until this study, on the one hand, few other meta-analyses were published, where the results were either interpreted with caution [2] or positive effects of a physical activity training compared to a control group could not be shown [3]. On the other hand, neuronal changes have been found related to physical activity, also in older people [4]. With this respect, an increase in the BDNF-factor and the insulin-like-growths-factor IGF-1 as well as neurogenesis may play a role.But even though the influence of physical activity on cognitive decline is well investigated, this factor is not the only one relevant. Küster et al. [5] showed, in a controlled intervention study, that a cognitive improvement in older adults at risk of dementia is more positively associated with an active cognitive lifestyle as with a specific cognitive or physical training program. More specifically, adults with an active lifestyle as measured by their physical, cognitive and social activity, showed an improvement in cognitive performance after ten weeks compared to individuals with a less active lifestyle. Neither the cognitive nor the physical training in itself had an effect on the cognitive measurements. One reason for this result might be that lifestyle factors or leisure activities were pursued over a longer period of time than the applied training sessions. Furthermore, an active lifestyle includes the variety of physical, cognitive and social activities. Also, a stronger relationship of lifestyle with memory, but not with other cognitive functions like for example executive functions [5]. The relevance of lifestyle factors is in line with another meta-analysis [6] showing that cognitively stimulating leisure activities may contribute to a reduced risk of cognitive impairment in later life. Furthermore, some studies show the beneficial effect of music training for cognitive improvement in older adults: Learning to play the piano and to read music improved the executive functions in older adults [7].Having these results in mind the claim to be more physically active is important due to its positive effect on the body. Concerning the mind and brain, physical activity is not the only factor which has the potential to improve cognitive performance. In our opinion, more sophisticated studies, which also consider the preference in leisuretime activity, have to be conducted.

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Section: Commentarysupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Commentarymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Need to Find the Personal Lifestyle Factor Counteracting Cognitive Decline in Normal Aging

Jansen¹

2017

J Gerontol Geriatr Res

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“…The training consisted of six different tasks targeting auditory processing and working memory (for details see Mahncke et al, 2006a,b; Küster et al, 2016). In each session, four different 15-min training tasks were completed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

No Evidence That Short-Term Cognitive or Physical Training Programs or Lifestyles Are Related to Changes in White Matter Integrity in Older Adults at Risk of Dementia

Fissler

Müller

Küster

et al. 2017

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Cognitive and physical activities can benefit cognition. However, knowledge about the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these activity-induced cognitive benefits is still limited, especially with regard to the role of white matter integrity (WMI), which is affected in cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the immediate and long-term effects of cognitive or physical training on WMI, as well as the association between cognitive and physical lifestyles and changes in WMI over a 6-month period. Additionally, we explored whether changes in WMI underlie activity-related cognitive changes, and estimated the potential of both trainings to improve WMI by correlating training outcomes with WMI. In an observational and interventional pretest, posttest, 3-month follow-up design, we assigned 47 community-dwelling older adults at risk of dementia to 50 sessions of auditory processing and working memory training (n = 13), 50 sessions of cardiovascular, strength, coordination, balance and flexibility exercises (n = 14), or a control group (n = 20). We measured lifestyles trough self-reports, cognitive training skills through training performance, functional physical fitness through the Senior Fitness Test, and global cognition through a cognitive test battery. WMI was assessed via a composite score of diffusion tensor imaging-based fractional anisotropy (FA) of three regions of interest shown to be affected in aging and Alzheimer’s disease: the genu of corpus callosum, the fornix, and the hippocampal cingulum. Effects for training interventions on FA outcomes, as well as associations between lifestyles and changes in FA outcomes were not significant. Additional analyses did show associations between cognitive lifestyle and global cognitive changes at the posttest and the 3-month follow-up (β ≥ 0.40, p ≤ 0.02) and accounting for changes in WMI did not affect these relationships. The targeted training outcomes were related to FA scores at baseline (cognitive training skills and FA composite score, rs = 0.68, p = 0.05; functional physical fitness and fornix FA, r = 0.35, p = 0.03). Overall, we found no evidence of a link between short-term physical or cognitive activities and WMI changes, despite activity-related cognitive changes in older adults at risk of dementia. However, we found positive associations between the two targeted training outcomes and WMI, hinting at a potential of long-term activities to affect WMI.

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“…Mitigating cognitive decline via cognitive development likely requires a favorable lifestyle approach that includes a number of factors working together to encourage cascading patterns of positive thoughts and actions [Friedman & Martin, 2011;Küster et al, 2016;Marzorati, 2016]. An aim of this framework is to inform cognitive interventions with aging adults to induce a lifestyle change.…”

Section: Theoretical Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Novel Theoretical Life Course Framework for Triggering Cognitive Development across the Lifespan

Rebok

Lin

2016

Human Development

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Although intellectual engagement is a significant factor associated with adult cognitive health, it is unclear what it includes, why and how it declines across the lifespan, and importantly, whether its decline has a causal role in cognitive aging. This integrative review introduces a novel theoretical life course framework that synthesizes research on early childhood experiences and cognitive aging to address the following three points. First, we specify six critical factors of intellectual engagement for long-term, broad cognitive development: (a) open-minded input-driven learning, (b) individualized scaffolding, (c) growth mindset, (d) forgiving environment, (e) serious commitment to learning, and (f) learning multiple skills simultaneously. We show that these factors increase basic cognitive abilities (e.g., working memory, inhibition) and promote far transfer. Second, we trace the decline of the six factors from infancy to aging adulthood (broad learning to specialization). Finally, we propose that these six factors can be applied to expand cognitive functioning in aging adults beyond currently known limits.

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Cognitive change is more positively associated with an active lifestyle than with training interventions in older adults at risk of dementia: a controlled interventional clinical trial

Cited by 47 publications

References 63 publications

The Need to Find the Personal Lifestyle Factor Counteracting Cognitive Decline in Normal Aging

The Need to Find the Personal Lifestyle Factor Counteracting Cognitive Decline in Normal Aging

No Evidence That Short-Term Cognitive or Physical Training Programs or Lifestyles Are Related to Changes in White Matter Integrity in Older Adults at Risk of Dementia

A Novel Theoretical Life Course Framework for Triggering Cognitive Development across the Lifespan

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