Effect of multi-component physical exercise on cognitive function, mood, and dual task gait speed of older adults with mild cognitive impairment

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate state between normal cognition and dementia. Cognitive impairment and change in ability to perform daily living activity exist, but not to the extent to meet the criteria for dementia. Individuals with MCI have significant risk to progress to dementia. They also exhibit different neuropsychiatric symptoms, and have higher mortality compared with cognitively normal, age-matched control. On the other hand, pharmacological treatment for dementia was not recommended to them as it was shown to be clinically ineffective in preventing progression to dementia. Methods: We conducted a prospective, pre and post-test self-control study in 2013-2014, which aimed at investigating the applicability and clinical effect of a new multi-component physical exercise program on older adults with MCI. Older adults (>55 year-old) with subjective memory complaint were referred to our cognitive clinic from local community. In the clinic, they were assessed by a multidisciplinary team, which was composed of experienced geriatricians, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The diagnosis of MCI was made according to Peterson's criteria for MCI in 2001. The 16-week multi-component physical exercise program consisted of 2 parts, 8 sessions of physiotherapist-instructed physical exercise class and home-based targeted physical exercise program. Aerobic exercise, cognitive-targeted and dual task exercise, and educational activities were included. Results: After 16 weeks of physical exercise training, participants (n=31) performed better in Stroop Color Word test (Wilcoxon signed-rank text, p