title: Effects of combined physical and cognitive training on fitness and neuropsychological outcomes in healthy older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical exercise and cognitive training have been shown to enhance cognition among older adults. However, few studies have looked at the potential synergetic effects of combining physical and cognitive training in a single study. Prior trials on combined training have led to interesting yet equivocal results. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of combined physical and cognitive interventions on physical fitness and neuropsychological performance in healthy older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six participants were randomly assigned to one of four training combinations using a 2×2 factorial design. The physical intervention was a mixed aerobic and resistance training program, and the cognitive intervention was a dual-task (DT) training program. Stretching and toning exercises and computer lessons were used as active control conditions. Physical and cognitive measures were collected pre- and postintervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All groups showed equivalent improvements in measures of functional mobility. The aerobic-strength condition led to larger effect size in lower body strength, independently of cognitive training. All groups showed improved speed of processing and inhibition abilities, but only participants who took part in the DT training, independently of physical training, showed increased task-switching abilities. The level of functional mobility after intervention was significantly associated with task-switching abilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined training did not yield synergetic effects. However, DT training did lead to transfer effects on executive performance in neuropsychological tests. Both aerobic-resistance training and stretching-toning exercises can improve functional mobility in older adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Research Center, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Desjardins-Crépeau
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Sports Studies, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berryman
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Thien Tuong Minh
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Jeanne
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kergoat
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and PERFORM Centre, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Karen Zh
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Faculté des sciences du sport, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bosquet
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Psychology and PERFORM Centre, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bherer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods
keywords: aging; cognitive performance; combined intervention; dual task; executive functions; physical performance