Effect of combined aerobic exercise and cognitive training in older adults with post‑stroke cognitive impairment

Abstract

Cognitive impairment affects >50% of individuals who survive for 6 months following a stroke. Cognitive impair‑ ment not only reduces the ability of patients to relearn motor skills due to memory problems or poor judgment, but also significantly impairs daily living activities and quality of life. Early intervention in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) not only improves cognition, but also attenuates the progression to dementia. The present controlled prospective study included 38 older adults with post‑stroke MCI, who were assigned to the intervention group (aerobic + cognitive exercise) and the control group (cognitive exercise). Both groups participated in 60‑min sessions, three times per week, for 12 weeks (4 weeks in the hospital and 8 weeks at home). The intervention group exhibited a significant improvement in cognitive function (Montreal cognitive assessment and frontal assessment battery, P<0.05), as well as in physical function and quality of life, compared to the control group. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the combination of aerobic and cognitive exercise is beneficial leading to improvements in the cognitive function, physical function and quality of life of individuals with post‑stroke MCI.