Assessment of a Cognitive-Motor Training Program in Adults at Risk for Developing Dementia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

With the prevalence of dementia increasing each year, pre-clinically implemented therapeutic interventions are needed. It has been suggested that cascading neural network failures may bring on behavioural deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease.

METHODS:

Previously we have shown that cognitive-motor integration (CMI) training in adults with cognitive impairments generalized to improved global cognitive and activities of daily living scores. Here we employ a novel movement control-based training approach involving CMI rather than traditional cognition-only brain training. We hypothesized that such training would stimulate widespread neural networks and enhance rule-based visuomotor ability in at-risk individuals.

RESULTS:

We observed a significant improvement in bimanual coordination in the at-risk training group. We also observed significant decreases in movement variability for the most complex CMI condition in the at-risk and healthy training groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data suggest that integrating cognition into action in a training intervention may be effective at strengthening vulnerable brain networks in asymptomatic adults at risk for developing dementia.

• Authors: Holly V Echlin, Diana J Gorbet, Lauren E Sergio
• Journal: Canadian geriatrics journal : CGJ (Can Geriatr J) Vol. 23 Issue 2 Pg. 190-198 (Jun 2020) ISSN: 1925-8348 [Print] Canada
• PMID: 32494335 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2020 Author(s). Published by the Canadian Geriatrics Society.