title: Neuroplastic effects of combined computerized physical and cognitive training in elderly individuals at risk for dementia: an eLORETA controlled study on resting states.
abstract: The present study investigates whether a combined cognitive and physical training may induce changes in the cortical activity as measured via electroencephalogram (EEG) and whether this change may index a deceleration of pathological processes of brain aging. Seventy seniors meeting the clinical criteria of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were equally divided into 5 groups: 3 experimental groups engaged in eight-week cognitive and/or physical training and 2 control groups: active and passive. A 5-minute long resting state EEG was measured before and after the intervention. Cortical EEG sources were modelled by exact low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA). Cognitive function was assessed before and after intervention using a battery of neuropsychological tests including the minimental state examination (MMSE). A significant training effect was identified only after the combined training scheme: a decrease in the post- compared to pre-training activity of precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex in delta, theta, and beta bands. This effect was correlated to improvements in cognitive capacity as evaluated by MMSE scores. Our results indicate that combined physical and cognitive training shows indices of a positive neuroplastic effect in MCI patients and that EEG may serve as a potential index of gains versus cognitive declines and neurodegeneration. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02313935.
authors.affiliation: Lab of Medical Physics, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 376, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Charis
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7383-2439
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Styliadis
authors.affiliation: Lab of Medical Physics, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 376, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kartsidis
authors.affiliation: Lab of Medical Physics, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 376, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4063-4182
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paraskevopoulos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Human Brain Dynamics, AAI Scientific Cultural Services Ltd., Office 501, Galaxias Building Block A, 33 Arch. Makarios III Avenue, 1065 Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Andreas A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ioannides
authors.affiliation: Lab of Medical Physics, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 376, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Bamidis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome