A combination of physical activity and computerized brain training improves verbal memory and increases cerebral XXXX metabolism in the elderly.

@entity1 @entity419 @entity2204 @entity542 @entity413
Physical exercise interventions and cognitive training programs have individually been reported to improve cognition in the healthy elderly population; however, the clinical significance of using a combined approach is currently lacking. This study evaluated whether physical activity (PA), computerized cognitive training and/or a combination of both could improve cognition. In this nonrandomized study, 224 healthy community-dwelling older adults (60-85 years) were assigned to 16 weeks home-based PA (n=64), computerized cognitive stimulation (n=62), a combination of both (combined, n=51) or a control group (n=47). Cognition was assessed using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test and the CogState computerized battery at baseline, 8 and 16 weeks post intervention. Physical fitness assessments were performed at all time points. A subset (total n=45) of @entity1 underwent @entity419 positron emission tomography scans at 16 weeks (post-intervention). One hundred and ninety-one @entity1 completed the study and the data of 172 @entity1 were included in the final analysis. Compared with the control group, the combined group showed improved verbal episodic memory and significantly higher brain @entity413 metabolism in the left sensorimotor cortex after controlling for age, sex, premorbid IQ, @entity2204 ( @entity2204 ) status and history of @entity542 . The higher cerebral @entity413 metabolism in this brain region was positively associated with improved verbal memory seen in the combined group only. Our study provides evidence that a specific combination of physical and mental exercises for 16 weeks can improve cognition and increase cerebral @entity413 metabolism in cognitively intact healthy older adults.
