title: A combination of physical activity and computerized brain training improves verbal memory and increases cerebral glucose metabolism in the elderly.
abstract: Physical exercise interventions and cognitive training programs have individually been reported to improve cognition in the healthy elderly population; however, the clinical significance of using a combined approach is currently lacking. This study evaluated whether physical activity (PA), computerized cognitive training and/or a combination of both could improve cognition. In this nonrandomized study, 224 healthy community-dwelling older adults (60-85 years) were assigned to 16 weeks home-based PA (n=64), computerized cognitive stimulation (n=62), a combination of both (combined, n=51) or a control group (n=47). Cognition was assessed using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test and the CogState computerized battery at baseline, 8 and 16 weeks post intervention. Physical fitness assessments were performed at all time points. A subset (total n=45) of participants underwent [(18)F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans at 16 weeks (post-intervention). One hundred and ninety-one participants completed the study and the data of 172 participants were included in the final analysis. Compared with the control group, the combined group showed improved verbal episodic memory and significantly higher brain glucose metabolism in the left sensorimotor cortex after controlling for age, sex, premorbid IQ, apolipoprotein E (APOE) status and history of head injury. The higher cerebral glucose metabolism in this brain region was positively associated with improved verbal memory seen in the combined group only. Our study provides evidence that a specific combination of physical and mental exercises for 16 weeks can improve cognition and increase cerebral glucose metabolism in cognitively intact healthy older adults.
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia [2] The McCusker Alzheimer's Research Foundation (Hollywood Private Hospital), Hollywood Medical Centre, Perth, WA, Australia [3] Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: 1] The McCusker Alzheimer's Research Foundation (Hollywood Private Hospital), Hollywood Medical Centre, Perth, WA, Australia [2] Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia [3] School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verdile
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia [2] The McCusker Alzheimer's Research Foundation (Hollywood Private Hospital), Hollywood Medical Centre, Perth, WA, Australia [3] Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sohrabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: The McCusker Alzheimer's Research Foundation (Hollywood Private Hospital), Hollywood Medical Centre, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Putland
authors.affiliation: 1] Health Care Western Australia, Hollywood Private Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia [2] School of Sports Science, Exercise and Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheetham
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhaliwal
authors.affiliation: 1] The McCusker Alzheimer's Research Foundation (Hollywood Private Hospital), Hollywood Medical Centre, Perth, WA, Australia [2] School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinborn
authors.affiliation: 1] Mental Health Research Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia [2] CogState Ltd, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maruff
authors.affiliation: 1] Mental Health Research Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia [2] CogState Ltd, Melbourne, VIC, Australia [3] Florey Neuroscience Institutes, Carlton South, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Darby
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia [2] The McCusker Alzheimer's Research Foundation (Hollywood Private Hospital), Hollywood Medical Centre, Perth, WA, Australia [3] Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D066191:Sensorimotor Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose