Cited by 371Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchPhysical Activity and HealthCognitive Functions and Memory

Combined physical and cognitive training for older adults with and without cognitive impairment: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Open access
Gavelin, Hanna Malmberg, Dong, Christopher, Minkov, Ruth, Bahar-Fuchs, Alex, Ellis, Kathryn A, Lautenschlager, Nicola T, Mellow, Maddison L, Wade, Alexandra T +4 more·2021·Ageing Research Reviews

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Combining physical exercise with cognitive training is a popular intervention in dementia prevention trials and guidelines. However, it remains unclear what combination strategies are most beneficial for cognitive and physical outcomes. We aimed to compare the efficacy of the three main types of combination strategies (simultaneous, sequential or exergaming) to either intervention alone or control in older adults. Randomized controlled trials of combined cognitive and physical training were included in multivariate and network meta-analyses. In cognitively healthy older adults and mild cognitive impairment, the effect of any combined intervention relative to control was small and statistically significant for overall cognitive (k = 41, Hedges' g = 0.22, 95 % CI 0.14 to 0.30) and physical function (k = 32, g = 0.25, 95 % CI 0.13 to 0.37). Simultaneous training was the most efficacious approach for cognition, followed by sequential combinations and cognitive training alone, and significantly better than physical exercise. For physical outcomes, simultaneous and sequential training showed comparable efficacy as exercise alone and significantly exceeded all other control conditions. Exergaming ranked low for both outcomes. Our findings suggest that simultaneously and sequentially combined interventions are efficacious for promoting cognitive alongside physical health in older adults, and therefore should be preferred over implementation of single-domain training.

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Research works printed but not linked: 18

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Gavelin, H. M., Dong, C., Minkov, R., Bahar-Fuchs, A., Ellis, K. A., Lautenschlager, N. T., Mellow, M. L., Wade, A. T., Smith, A. E., Finke, C., Krohn, S., & Lampit, A.
Affiliations
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • University of South Australia (AU)
  • Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
Corresponding author
Lampit, Amit
Venue
Ageing Research Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-03
Volume
66
Pages
101232
ISSN
1568-1637 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3108507079
Cited by
371
References
104
Citations by year
2026: 68 · 2025: 83 · 2024: 74 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 22
FWCI
6.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Ageing Research Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • medRxiv (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UniSA Research Outputs Repository (University of South Australia) (submittedVersion)
  • Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • University of Melbourne
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (GNT1171313)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
Keywords
older adults, mild cognitive impairment, dementia prevention, simultaneous training, sequential training, exergames, physical activity, cognitive training, physical function, cognitive function
MeSH terms
Network Meta-Analysis, Aged, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Humans, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Cognitive Dysfunction

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