Effects of Cognitive-Physical Dual-Task Training on Executive Function and Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex of Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Effects of cognitive-physical dual-task training on prefrontal cortex (PFC)-dependent function remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of dual-task training on executive function and activity in the PFC of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Thirty-six older adults with MCI randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG) performing cognitive-physical dual-task training requiring for simultaneous cognitive tasks and physical exercise (n = 18) or the control group (CG) receiving sing-cognitive training using the computerized cognitive training program focusing on executive function (n = 18) for 16 sessions lasting 40 minutes a session. For the primary outcomes, the Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B) was used, and for the secondary outcome, activity in the PFC using functional near infrared spectroscopy and the Korean version of instrumental activities of daily living (K-IADL) were evaluated at pre-and post-intervention. After the intervention, the EG achieved a significantly higher improvement in the TMT-B and decreased activity in the PFC during TMT-B testing than the CG. However, there were no significant differences in the K-IADL in both groups. These findings indicate that dual-task training is more effective in improving executive process and decreasing activity in the PFC during cognitive testing than single-cognitive training with limitations of its transfer effect to daily life.