EFFECT OF AEROBIC TRAINING VERSUS MOBILE APPLICATION BASED COGNITIVE TRAINING ON COGNITION AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF OLDER ADULTS

D. Sharma^1,2,3, M. Sheth⁴, D. Parikh⁵

Background: Population ageing is a global demographic trend. Ageing affects cognition and in turn, may affect the quality of life. Combating cognitive decline will not only affect the individual but a society as a whole and it is important to explore non-pharmacological interventions which can yield promising results. Aerobic training is quite a promising tool for cognitive decline whereas, mobile application based cognitive training is relatively less explored.

Purpose: To compare the effect of aerobic training versus mobile application based cognitive training on improving cognition, aerobic capacity and quality of life in older adults with mild cognitive impairments (MCI).

Methods: This experimental study was carried out in Ahmedabad, India. 129 older adults were selected by convenience sampling and were screened with Addenbrook’s Cognitive ExaminationIII(ACE-III), 95 did not meet criteria, two declined to participate. Those who were between 60 to 75 years with MCI, using smartphones, and eligible for aerobic training as per Physical activity readiness questionnaire were included. Individuals with any associated neurological conditions were excluded. Thirty-two subjects were randomly allocated into two groups. Group one was given aerobic exercises, moderate intensity, for 30 minutes, 5 days a week as per ACSM guidelines. Group two was given cognitive training through Lumosity mobile app. They were trained for different domains of cognition through various games. They achieved daily targets and played allotted games. Interventions were given for eight weeks. ACE-III, Six-Minute Walk Test and Quality of Life-Alzheimer’s Disease were used as outcome measures. Observers were blinded to the grouping. Level of significance was kept at 5%.

Results: All three outcomes showed significant improvement for within-group analysis when analysed with paired t-test. ACE-III, for group 1, p<0.01, 95% CI (1.59, 4.27) and for group 2, p<0.01, 95% CI (3.33, 8.91). Aerobic Capacity, for group 1, p<0.01, 95% CI (0.64, 1.15), and for group 2, p<0.01, 95% CI (0.59, 1.28). Quality of Life, for group 1, p<0.01, 95% CI (1.25, 3.49), for group 2, p=0.001, 95% CI (0.6, 2.89). For between-group analysis, unpaired t-test was used and it showed a significant difference between the groups for cognition p=0.036, 95% CI (0.22, 6.15) with group 2 showing better improvement than group 1. Quality of life p=0.411, 95% CI (-2.15, 0.90) and aerobic capacity (p=0.83), 95% CI (0.36, 0.45) did not show significant difference when analysed between groups.

Conclusion(s): Aerobic exercise and mobile application based training both are effective in improving the level of cognition in older adults, where mobile application-based training showed better improvement than aerobic training for the level of cognition. Aerobic training and Mobile based application training both are equally effective for improving Quality of life and Aerobic capacity in older adults with MCI.  

Implications: It is important to assess and rehabilitate cognitive impairment in older adults to achieve the ultimate goal of rehabilitation. When an individual is incapable to carry out the exercise, the mental abilities of an individual can be preserved by alternative interventions like a mobile application which can provide cost-effective intervention at their doorstep.

Funding, acknowledgements: The authors received no specific funding for this work.

Keywords: cognitive dysfunction, aerobic exercise, quality of life

Topic: Older people

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Ahmedabad Institute of Medical Sciences

Committee: Institutional Ethics Commitee

Ethics number: AIMS/2016/75