Aging, Cognitive Performance, Exercise, Functional Performance, Psychomotor Performance
Conditions
Keywords
older-adults, cognitive-motor exercise, reactive agility, psychomotor performance
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of adding a brief visual stimulus-based cognitive-motor agility exercise component to a multicomponent exercise program in community-dwelling older adults. Participants were randomized to either an experimental group or an active control group. Both groups participated in supervised multicomponent exercise sessions twice weekly for 8 weeks. Each session lasted 45 minutes. During the final 10 minutes of each session, the experimental group performed the visual stimulus-based cognitive-motor agility exercises, whereas the active control group performed time-matched low-intensity activities. The primary outcome was global cognitive performance assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Secondary outcomes included hand and foot visual-motor response time, visual working memory, and functional performance.
Detailed description
This study was designed as an 8-week, parallel-group randomized controlled exercise intervention in community-dwelling older adults. The study aimed to determine whether adding a brief Light Trainer-assisted visual stimulus-based cognitive-motor agility exercise component to a multicomponent exercise program would provide additional benefits for cognitive, psychomotor, and functional performance. After completion of baseline assessments, eligible participants were randomized to either an experimental group or an active control group. Both groups participated in supervised exercise sessions twice weekly for 8 weeks, for a total of 16 sessions. Each session lasted 45 minutes. The first 35 minutes of each session consisted of the same multicomponent exercise program in both groups. This program included light-paced walking, mobility exercises, multidirectional stepping, balance tasks, agility exercise, coordination exercises, low-resistance strengthening exercises, and functional movement combinations. During the final 10 minutes of each session, participants in the experimental group completed visual stimulus-based cognitive-motor agility exercises using the Light Trainer system. These tasks required participants to perceive randomized visual stimuli, select an appropriate motor response, and respond as quickly and accurately as possible using hand or foot movements. The Light Trainer component included 13 repetitions of 30-second task intervals separated by 15-second rest periods. Task difficulty progressed across the 8-week intervention by increasing the number of modules from two to six and by increasing task complexity, stimulus randomness, movement direction changes, response speed requirements, and cognitive-motor demands. Participants in the active control group completed the same 35-minute multicomponent exercise program followed by a time-matched 10-minute low-intensity activity period. These activities included supervised stretching, mobility, agility, balance, or recovery exercises and did not include visual stimulus-based response tasks, rapid decision-making, reactive agility tasks, or Light Trainer-assisted exercises. Assessments were performed at baseline and after the 8-week intervention period. The primary outcome was global cognitive performance assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Secondary outcomes included hand and foot visual-motor response time, visual working memory performance, Ten-Step Test, 30-second Chair Stand Test, 30-second Arm Curl Test, and 8-Foot Up-and-Go Test. The study was conducted in community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older who were able to ambulate independently and follow basic exercise and testing instructions.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMulticomponent Exercise Program
Participants completed a supervised 35-minute multicomponent exercise program twice weekly for 8 weeks. The program included light-paced walking, mobility exercises, multidirectional stepping, balance tasks, coordination exercises, low-resistance strengthening exercises, and functional movement combinations. This component was performed by both the experimental and active control groups.
BEHAVIORALVisual Stimulus-Based Cognitive-Motor Agility Exercise
The experimental group completed a 10-minute Light Trainer-assisted visual stimulus-based cognitive-motor agility exercise component during the final part of each supervised session. Tasks required participants to perceive randomized visual stimuli, select an appropriate motor response, and respond as quickly and accurately as possible using hand or foot movements. Each session included 13 repetitions of 30-second task intervals separated by 15-second rest periods. Task difficulty progressed across 8 weeks by increasing the number of modules from two to six and increasing task complexity.
BEHAVIORALTime-Matched Low-Intensity Activities
The active control group completed a 10-minute time-matched low-intensity activity period during the final part of each supervised session. These activities included stretching, mobility, balance, or recovery exercises and did not include visual stimulus-based response tasks, rapid decision-making, reactive agility tasks, or Light Trainer-assisted exercises.
Sponsors
Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Participants were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: an experimental group receiving multicomponent exercise plus the visual stimulus-based cognitive-motor agility exercise, or an active control group receiving the same multicomponent exercise plus time-matched low-intensity activities.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to 81 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older * Able to ambulate independently * Able to understand and follow basic exercise and testing instructions * Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of 23 or higher * No health condition that would limit safe participation in exercise * Able to participate regularly in the 8-week exercise program
Exclusion criteria
* Serious cardiovascular, neurological, orthopedic, or vestibular disease that could prevent safe participation in exercise * Recent surgery * Uncontrolled hypertension * Severe visual or hearing problems * Montreal Cognitive Assessment score below 23 * Use of medications known to substantially affect cognitive, psychomotor, balance, or motor performance * Very low physical function preventing safe participation in the exercise program
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Global cognitive performance was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The total score was recorded at baseline and after the 8-week intervention period. Higher scores indicate better global cognitive performance. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Hand Visual-Motor Response Time | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Hand visual-motor response performance was assessed using the Light Trainer system. Participants responded to randomized visual stimuli by touching illuminated modules with either hand during a 30-second task. Fastest and mean response times were recorded in seconds. Shorter response times indicate better performance. |
| Change in Foot Visual-Motor Response Time | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Foot visual-motor response performance was assessed using the Light Trainer system. Participants responded to randomized visual stimuli by stepping on illuminated modules with either foot during a 30-second task. Fastest and mean response times were recorded in seconds. Shorter response times indicate better performance. |
| Change in Visual Working Memory Performance | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Visual working memory was assessed using the memory mode of the Light Trainer system. Participants memorized the color and position of illuminated modules and then identified the module corresponding to a target color. Response time and accuracy were recorded. Shorter response time and higher accuracy indicate better performance. |
| Change in Ten-Step Test Time | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Lower-extremity rapid stepping and agility performance were assessed using the Ten-Step Test. Participants completed 10 alternating stepping movements on a 10-cm step block as quickly as possible. Test duration was recorded in seconds. Shorter time indicates better performance. |
| Change in 30-Second Chair Stand Test Performance | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Lower-body functional strength was assessed using the 30-second Chair Stand Test. Participants were instructed to stand up fully and sit down as many times as possible within 30 seconds. The total number of correctly completed repetitions was recorded. Higher repetition count indicates better performance. |
| Change in 30-Second Arm Curl Test Performance | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Upper-body functional strength was assessed using the 30-second Arm Curl Test. Participants performed as many controlled elbow flexion-extension repetitions as possible within 30 seconds while seated. The test was performed separately for the right and left arms. Higher repetition count indicates better performance. |
| Change in 8-Foot Up-and-Go Test Time | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Functional mobility, agility, and dynamic balance were assessed using the 8-Foot Up-and-Go Test. Participants rose from a chair, walked around a marker placed 2.44 meters away, returned to the chair, and sat down again. Test duration was recorded in seconds. Shorter time indicates better performance. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed