%0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2017 %T Combined Dual-Task Gait Training and Aerobic Exercise to Improve Cognition, Mobility, and Vascular Health in Community-Dwelling Older Adults at Risk for Future Cognitive Decline1. %A Gregory, Michael A %A Boa Sorte Silva, Narlon C %A Gill, Dawn P %A McGowan, Cheri L %A Liu-Ambrose, Teresa %A Shoemaker, J Kevin %A Hachinski, Vladimir %A Holmes, Jeff %A Petrella, Robert J %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Analysis of Variance %K Blood Pressure %K Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory %K Carotid Intima-Media Thickness %K Cognition Disorders %K Exercise %K Exercise Therapy %K Female %K Follow-Up Studies %K Gait %K Humans %K Independent Living %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Neuropsychological Tests %X

This 6-month experimental case series study investigated the effects of a dual-task gait training and aerobic exercise intervention on cognition, mobility, and cardiovascular health in community-dwelling older adults without dementia. Participants exercised 40 min/day, 3 days/week for 26 weeks on a Biodex GaitTrainer2 treadmill. Participants were assessed at baseline (V0), interim (V1: 12-weeks), intervention endpoint (V2: 26-weeks), and study endpoint (V3: 52-weeks). The study outcomes included: cognition [executive function (EF), processing speed, verbal fluency, and memory]; mobility: usual & dual-task gait (speed, step length, and stride time variability); and vascular health: ambulatory blood pressure, carotid arterial compliance, and intima-media thickness (cIMT). Fifty-six participants [age: 70(6) years; 61% female] were included in this study. Significant improvements following the exercise program (V2) were observed in cognition: EF (p = 0.002), processing speed (p < 0.001), verbal fluency [digit symbol coding (p < 0.001), phonemic verbal fluency (p < 0.001)], and memory [immediate recall (p < 0.001) and delayed recall (p < 0.001)]; mobility: usual & dual-task gait speed (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively) and step length (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively); and vascular health: cIMT (p = 0.002). No changes were seen in the remaining outcomes. In conclusion, 26 weeks of dual-task gait training and aerobic exercise improved performance on a number of cognitive outcomes, while increasing usual & dual-task gait speed and step length in a sample of older adults without dementia.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 57 %P 747-763 %8 2017 %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28304305?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-161240