Do aerobic resistance exercises combined with cognitive training and vitamin D improve cognition?

A  multiinstitutional study from Canada reported that pairing aerobic resistance exercises with computerized cognitive training could be beneficial for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This combination may help improve cognition and potentially delay the onset of dementia.

They examined whether a combination of aerobic resistance exercises, computerized cognitive training, and vitamin D would be more effective than exercise alone. The research involved 175 adults aged 65 to 84, with MCI divided into five groups andreceived different treatments over 20 weeks.

All groups engaging in aerobic- resistance exercise, whether they had cognitive training or vitamin D, improved their cognitive function compared to the control group. Specifically, the group that received both exercise and cognitive training showed the most significant improvement. Vitamin D supplementation did not have a noticeable effect on cognition.

Further research in this area may help us better understand how to enhance and preserve cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

JAMA Network Open. 2023;6(7):e2324465. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.24465