Virtual Reality and Exercise Training Enhance Brain, Cognitive, and Physical Health in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Ja-Gyeong Yang, Ngeemasara Thapa, Hye-Jin Park, Seongryu Bae, Kyung Won Park, Jong-Hwan Park and Hyuntae Park ()
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Ja-Gyeong Yang: Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea
Ngeemasara Thapa: Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea
Hye-Jin Park: Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea
Seongryu Bae: Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea
Kyung Won Park: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan 49201, Korea
Jong-Hwan Park: Health Convergence Medicine Laboratory, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 49241, Korea
Hyuntae Park: Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-14

Abstract: We investigated the effectiveness of virtual-reality-based cognitive training (VRCT) and exercise on the brain, cognitive, physical and activity of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: This study included 99 participants (70.8 ± 5.4) with MCI in the VRCT, exercise, and control groups. The VRCT consisted of a series of games targeting different brain functions such as executive function, memory, and attention. Twenty-four sessions of VRCT (three days/week) were performed, and each session was 100 min long. Exercise intervention consisted of aerobic and resistance trainings performed in 24 sessions for 60 min (2 times/week for 12 weeks). Global cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) of the neural oscillatory activity in different frequency bands was performed. Physical function was measured using handgrip strength (HGS) and gait speed. Results: After the intervention period, VRCT significantly improved the MMSE scores ( p < 0.05), and the exercise group had significantly improved HGS and MMSE scores ( p < 0.05) compared to baseline. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of resting-state EEG showed a decreased theta/beta power ratio (TBR) ( p < 0.05) in the central region of the brain in the exercise group compared to the control group. Although not statistically significant, the VRCT group also showed a decreased TBR compared to the control group. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test showed a significant decrease in theta band power in the VRCT group compared to the exercise group and a decrease in delta/alpha ratio in the exercise group compared to the VRCT group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that VRCT and exercise training enhances brain, cognitive, and physical health in older adults with MCI. Further studies with a larger population sample to identify the effect of VRCT in combination with exercise training are required to yield peak benefits for patients with MCI.

Keywords: virtual reality; exercise; mild cognitive impairment; cognition; electroencephalogram (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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