OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the possible effect of the combined intervention of physical exercise and cognitive training on cognitive function in stroke survivals with vascular cognitive impairment. DESIGN: A single-blind (investigator-blinded but not subject-blinded) randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Medical Rehabilitation Center of Shanghai General Hospital, China. SUBJECTS: A total of 225 patients (mean age 64.59 years, SD 4.27) who exhibited vascular cognitive impairment were included in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly allocated into one of the four groups: (1) physical exercise (n = 56; 50-minute session), (2) cognitive training (n = 57; 60-minute session), (3) combined intervention of physical exercise and cognitive training (n = 55; 50-minute session plus 60-minute session), or (4) control groups (n = 57; 45-minute session). All participants received training for 36 sessions, three days per week, for 12 weeks. PRIMARY MEASURES: Measures were recorded at baseline, after the intervention and at a six-month follow-up. Primary measurements included the Trail Making Part B, Stroop, forward digit span, and mental rotation tests. RESULTS: A total of 179 participants (79.56% response rate) completed the study. Cognitive performances on all four tasks in the combined training group improved significantly after the intervention (p < 0.01). Changes in cognitive performance were greater in the combined intervention group than those in the physical exercise group (eg, forward digit span 13.61% versus 2.18%, p = 0.003), the cognitive training group (eg, mental rotation 17.36% versus 0.87%, p = 0.002), and the control group (eg, Stroop -4.11% versus -0.72%, p = 0.026). CONCLUSION: The combined intervention produced greater benefits on cognitive function compared to either training alone in stroke survivors with vascular cognitive impairment.

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