BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compromises physical and mental function in older adults and increases the risk of dementia. High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) is a promising intervention, but the optimal dose-response for improving cognitive and physical outcomes in this population remains unclear. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 224 older adults (>= 65 years) allocated to three groups: high-dose HIFT (4 sessions of 60 min/week), low-dose HIFT (2 sessions of 45 min/week), and control (non-exercise activities). The intervention lasted 12 weeks. Primary outcomes included cognitive function (MAAS, MoCA, TMT A/B, VFAT, DSST), physical fitness (Senior Fitness Test, Tinetti), and quality of life (SF-36, PSQI). A repeated-measures ANOVA was used to examine the time x group interaction. RESULTS: Significant time x group interactions were observed for MAAS (F 20.50; p < 0.001; eta2G 0.005), MoCA (F 17.40; p < 0.001; eta2G 0.034), TMT A (F 38.60; p < 0.001; eta2G 0.098), and VFAT (F 109.00; p < 0.001; eta2G 0.101), with greater improvements in both HIFT groups compared to control. For quality of life, significant interactions were found across all SF-36 dimensions, notably in Vitality (F 76.20; p < 0.001; eta2G 0.095) and Emotional Role (F 23.00; p < 0.001; eta2G 0.032). Physical fitness also improved, with significant effects in the 6-Minute Walk Test (F 29.80; p < 0.001; eta2G 0.108) and 8-Foot Up-and-Go (F 81.00; p < 0.001; eta2G 0.191). CONCLUSION: Both high- and low-dose HIFT programs improved cognitive, physical, and quality-of-life outcomes in older adults with MCI. The low-dose intervention achieved similar effects to the high-dose protocol, offering a time-efficient and scalable approach for implementation in clinical and community settings.

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