Effect of various exercises on frailty among older adults with subjective cognitive concerns: a randomised controlled trial. (10th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Chi Hsien; Umegaki, Hiroyuki; Makino, Taeko; Uemura, Kazuki; Hayashi, Takahiro; Kitada, Tomoharu; Inoue, Aiko; Shimada, Hiroyuki; Kuzuya, Masafumi
• Is Part Of: Age and ageing. Volume 49:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 1011
• Page End: 1019
• Publication Date: 2020-06-10
• Subjects: frailty -- cognition -- anxiety -- depression -- physical training -- older people; Aging -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afaa086
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-0729

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Physical exercise has been linked to reduced frailty, but there is insufficient evidence of beneficial effects in community-dwelling older adults with subjective cognitive concerns. Objective: This study aimed to clarify the effects of physical exercise in this population. Design: Single-blind randomised controlled trial. Setting: Community sports centres. Participants: Residents aged 65–85 years were screened using the Kihon checklist; those with subjective cognitive concerns were invited for eligibility assessment. In total, 415 community-dwelling older adults were enrolled and randomised. Methods: This trial investigated the effects of aerobic training (AT), resistance training (RT) and combined training (AT+RT) programs on reducing frailty. All participants were randomised into one of the three intervention groups or the control group. Participants in the intervention groups underwent a group training program and self-paced home training for 26 weeks. The control group received lectures about health promotion. A 95-item frailty index (FI) was utilised to determine the effects of training. Participants were followed up at weeks 26 and 52. Results: At baseline, mean age of all participants (47% women) was 72.3 ± 4.6 years, with a mean FI score of 0.3 ± 0.1. Compared with control group, AT improved total FI by 0.020 (CI −0.039 to −0.001, effect size −0.275) and the depression and anxiety component of FI by 0.051 (CI −0.084 to −0.018, effect size −0.469) at week 26, but the effects waned at week 52. No significant differences in FI were found in RT and AT+RT groups at weeks 26 and 52. Conclusions: A 26-week AT reduced frailty modestly, especially in the depression and anxiety component, in older adults with subjective cognitive concerns.