Li PWC, Yu DSF, Siu PM, Wong SCK, Chan BS. Peer-supported exercise intervention for persons with mild cognitive impairment: a waitlist randomised controlled trial (the BRAin Vitality Enhancement trial).
Age Ageing 2022;
51:6749365. [PMID:
36201330 DOI:
10.1093/ageing/afac213]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
motivating older people with cognitive impairment to remain physically active is challenging.
OBJECTIVE
this study aimed to examine the effects of a peer-supported exercise intervention on the cognitive function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
DESIGN
a two-arm randomised controlled trial.
SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS
community-dwelling persons with MCI were recruited from community centres for older adults in Hong Kong.
METHODS
participants randomised to the intervention group received an 8-week group-based peer-supported multicomponent exercise intervention, while the waitlist control group received usual care. A battery of neuropsychological tests and the Short Form-36 were administered at baseline, immediately post-intervention and 3 months post-intervention.
RESULTS
two hundred and twenty-nine participants were randomised to the intervention (n = 116) or control (n = 113) group. Compared with the control group, participants in the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in processing speed and attention measured by the Colour Trails Test 1 (β = 7.213, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.870-11.557, P = 0.001) and working memory measured by the Digit Span Backward Test (β = 0.540, 95% CI = 0.199-0.881, P = 0.002) immediately post-intervention. The effects were sustained at 3 months post-intervention. Similarly, significantly greater improvements in sequencing and mental flexibility measured by the Colour Trails Test 2 were observed in the intervention group 3 months post-intervention (β = 6.979, 95% CI = 3.375-10.584, P < 0.001). Changes in global cognition, short-term memory and HRQoL were not significant.
CONCLUSION
the peer-supported exercise intervention was effective at sustaining improvements in executive function, attention and working memory in persons with MCI.
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