News Release
Title
What type of exercise is the most effective for preventing cognitive decline in older adults?
Key Points• Aerobic exercise training can improve delayed memory in older adults.
• The effect is more pronounced in individuals without objective memory decline.
• The findings of the current study could be applied to the development of evidence-based
guidelines for the dementia risk reduction.
Summary
The research team led by Dr. Masafumi Kuzuya from Institute of Innovation for Future
Society and Department of community Health & Geriatrics investigated the effects of different
exercise modalities on cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.
Physical activity and exercise have been suggested to be effective for preventing cognitive
decline in older adults, but the relative efficacy of different types of exercise have yet to beclarified. We evaluated similarities and differences among the effects of aerobic exercise
training, resistance exercise training, and combined exercise training on cognitive function incommunity-dwelling older adults.
Participants in the aerobic exercise training group showed a significant improvement indelayed memory function compared to those in the control group. The effect of training wasmore pronounced in the non-amnesia group than in the amnesia group. The findings of thecurrent study could be applied to the development of evidence-based guidelines for thedementia risk reduction.
This work was supported by JST COI Grant Number JPMJCE1317.

Research Background
There has been considerable interest in slowing cognitive decline and delaying dementia
onset through behavioral interventions. Physical activity and exercise have been suggested tobe effective for preventing cognitive decline in older adults, but the relative efficacy of different
types of exercise have yet to be clarified. We evaluated similarities and differences among theeffects of aerobic exercise training, resistance exercise training, and combined exercise training
on cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.
Research Results
A single-blinded RCT named “TOyota Prevention Intervention for Cognitive decline andSarcopenia” (TOPICS) was designed. Older adults at high risk for future decline in
instrumental activities of daily living, were screened using the “Kihon Checklist” questionnaire,
which was sent by the Toyota City municipal government to citizens aged ≥65 years. Aftercompletion of the baseline assessment, participants were randomly assigned to one of the fourgroups using a minimization algorithm. Participants in the aerobic exercise training,
resistance exercise training, and combined exercise training groups exercised under thesupervision of well-trained fitness instructors for 60 minutes/day, two days/week, for a total of
52 sessions over the first 26 weeks. The participants were evaluated at baseline before
randomization, 26 weeks (postintervention), and 52 weeks (follow-up).
Participants in the aerobic exercise training group showed a significant improvement indelayed memory function compared to those in the control group. The effect of training wasmore pronounced in the non-amnesia group than in the amnesia group.
The current study suggests that the AT intervention can improve delayed memory function
in older adults, particularly in individuals without objective memory decline.

Figure. Changes in delayed memory scores

Research Summary and Future Perspective
The findings of the current study could be applied to the development of evidence-based
guidelines for the dementia risk reduction.
Publication
Taeko Makino, Hiroyuki Umegaki, Masahiko Ando, Xian Wu Cheng, Koji Ishida, Hiroshi
Akima, Yoshiharu Oshida, Yasuko Yoshida, Kazuki Uemura, Hiroyuki Shimada, Masafumi
KuzuyaEffects of Aerobic, Resistance, or Combined Exercise Training Among Older Adults with
Subjective Memory Complaints: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
doi: 10.3233/JAD-210047
Japanese ver.
https://www.med.nagoya-u.ac.jp/medical_J/research/pdf/Alz_Dis_210529.pdf