OBJECTIVES: Studies suggest that cognitive training and physical activity can improve age-related deficits in dual-task performances. However, both of these interventions have never been compared in the same study. This paper investigates the improvement in dual-task performance in two types of exercise training groups and a cognitive training group, and explores if there are specific dual-task components that are more sensitive or more likely to improve following each type of training. METHODS: Seventy-eight healthy inactive participants over the age of 60 (mean 69.98, SD 5.56) were randomized to one of three 12-week training programs: aerobic (AET) = 26, gross motor abilities (GMA) = 27, cognition (COG) = 25. Before and after the training program, the participants underwent physical fitness tests, and cognitive evaluations involving a computerized cognitive dual-task. The AET consisted of high and low intensity aerobic training, the GMA of full-body exercises focusing on agility, balance, coordination, and stretching, and the COG of tablet-based exercises focusing on executive functions. RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA on reaction time data revealed a group x time interaction (F[2,75] = 11.91, p < 0.01) with COG having the greatest improvement, followed by a significant improvement in the GMA group. Secondary analysis revealed the COG to also improve the intraindividual variability in reaction time (F[1,24] = 8.62, p < 0.01), while the GMA improved the dual-task cost (F[1,26] = 12.74, p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: The results show that physical and cognitive training can help enhance dual-task performance by improving different aspects of the task, suggesting that different mechanisms are in play.
Copyright the Gerontological Society of America. Reproduced by permission of the publisher.

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