Exploring the Effectiveness of Incorporated Versus Additional Dual-Task Training Program in Community Older Adults

Ching-yi Wu

Status: Completed

Conditions: Additional Dual-task Training; Incorporated Dual-task Training

Treatments: Behavioral: the incorporated dual-task training group (IDT); Behavioral: the additional dual-task training group (ADT)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07238218

109-036

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study compared the effects of IDT and ADT on cognitive function, physical performance, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults.

Enrollment: 164 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 60 years
• Able to follow instructions (Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥ 20)
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score > 20
• No difficulty performing basic activities of daily living
• No diagnosis of dementia confirmed by a neurologist

Exclusion criteria

• Self-reported diagnosis of neurological disorders
• Unstable medical conditions (e.g., recent myocardial infarction, heart failure, recent heart surgery, or severe asthma)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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164 participants in 2 patient groups

The motor training component

Experimental group

Description:

The motor training component included stretching, aerobic exercise, strength training, and balance exercises. Exercise intensity was gradually increased to a moderate level (50-70% of participants' maximum heart rate) using low-impact modalities to minimize injury risk and was adjusted according to individual physical condition throughout the intervention. Warm-up and cool-down periods involved whole-body muscle stretching. Aerobic exercises consisted of walking, marching in place, high knee lifts, kicking motions, leg curls, touchdown steps, and box steps, combining upper and lower limb movements to produce rhythmic and repetitive patterns. Strength training comprised squats, lunges, chair sit-to-stands, weightlifting using water-filled bottles, farmer's walks, and elastic band exercises targeting both upper and lower limbs. Balance exercises included single-leg stands, heel-to-toe walking, ball kicking, and cross-stepping.

Treatment:

Behavioral: the additional dual-task training group (ADT)

Behavioral: the incorporated dual-task training group (IDT)

The cognitive training

Experimental group

Description:

The cognitive training targeted domains such as attention, language, memory, calculation, and processing speed. Each session incorporated one or more cognitive domains. Attention tasks involved responding to visual or auditory cues, spotting differences in quantity, size, color, direction, or shape, and identifying specific objects within cluttered environments. Language tasks included naming fruits, animals, and vegetables, playing word solitaire, engaging in word association, constructing sentences, spelling, reading, and picture-based storytelling. Calculation tasks required solving arithmetic problems or calculating shopping list costs. Processing speed activities involved timely responses to questions, such as number comparisons. Memory tasks focused on recalling numbers, symbols, words, or daily items after presentation, as well as remembering spatial locations, shopping lists, or informational content from brochures and images.

Treatment:

Behavioral: the additional dual-task training group (ADT)

Behavioral: the incorporated dual-task training group (IDT)