A Two-Phased Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of the Cognitively Enriched Walking Program "Take a Walk with Your Brain" for Older Adults.

Given the aging population, finding solutions to retain optimal cognitive capacity is a research priority. The potential of physical activity to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and to enhance cognitive functioning is established. Combining physical with cognitive activity has been put forward as a potentially even more effective way to promote healthy cognitive aging. Most studies on combined interventions have however been conducted in laboratory settings. This paper reports on a two-phased pilot study evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of a newly developed real-life cognitively enriched walking program for adults aged 65+ years. In Phase I, the feasibility and enjoyability of the cognitive tasks was evaluated by conducting walk-along interviews with older adults (n = 163). In Phase II, the cognitively enriched walking program was piloted in two groups of older adults (n = 19), and the feasibility and acceptability of the program and cognitive tasks was evaluated by means of questionnaires and focus groups. The cognitive tasks (i.e., median scores of ≥3 on a total of 4 (Phase I) and ≥6 on a total of 10 (Phase II) for most of the tasks) and the cognitively enriched walking program (i.e., median scores of ≥7 on a total of 10) were considered feasible and acceptable. Based on the input of the participants, key considerations for a feasible and acceptable program were defined: participants should be sufficiently challenged cognitively and physically, social interaction is an important motivator, cognitive tasks should make use of stimuli reflecting daily life and be conducted in group, the rationale for the tasks should be explained to participants, the frequency of the group sessions should be maximum 2 times a week, and the program should be supervised by a trained coach. These results warrant future research to establish the effectiveness of this program.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and cognitive function among older adults: A bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2024.

Because of population ageing, there will be a vast increase in the prevalence of cognitive decline and dementia. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour have been identified as modifiable lifestyle behaviours associated with these cognitive conditions. Therefore, the aim of this bibliometric analysis is to reveal the knowledge structure of the field of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and cognitive function among older adults from 2004 to 2024, and to predict emerging research trends. A total of 1290 publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were applied to conduct performance analysis, science mapping, and enrichment. T. Liu-Ambrose was the most prolific author (39 publications), and the University of British Columbia was the most prolific institution (48 publications). The USA, China, and Canada were the three most productive countries with 392, 174, and 136 publications respectively. Two research trends revealed the knowledge structure of this field, including the shift from evaluating the effectiveness of interventions on cognitive function to evaluating the effectiveness of interventions on other health-related outcomes, as well as an expansion of research on the role of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the context of healthy ageing. Sleep, sedentary behaviour, and virtual reality may be emerging research trends and may predict directions for future research. Collectively, this bibliometric analysis provides a one-step overview of the knowledge structure in this field for researchers and other stakeholders, as well as a reference for future research.

Conceptualization of a cognitively enriched walking program for older adults: a co-design study with experts and end users.

BACKGROUND: Research in controlled laboratory settings shows that physical activity programs enriched with cognitive challenges enhance the benefits of physical activity on cognition in older adults. This translational study aimed to conceptualise a real-life, cognitively enriched walking program for older adults (65+) by investigating (a) which cognitive tasks are most suited for cognitive enrichment of a walking program, and (b) how to embed these tasks in a walking program to become feasible, enjoyable and effective. METHODS: A co-design process was followed with input of 34 academic experts and 535 end users. First, an online, three-rounds Delphi process was used to obtain consensus amongst academic experts on the key characteristics that a real-life cognitively enriched walking program should have. Next, end users provided feedback and suggestions on what the experts concluded, and gave more insight into their preferences and concerns by means of an online/telephone survey. RESULTS: Combined input from experts and end users resulted in a list of recommendations to guide the further development of the cognitively enriched walking program. First, it is important to provide a range of cognitive tasks to choose from. Each of these tasks should (a) provide variation and differentiation, (b) be implemented with increasing levels of difficulty, and (c) be integrated in the walk. Second, divide the walk into three parts: 5-10 min brisk walking, cognitive tasks for most of the walk, and 5-10 min free walking. Finally, the program should strive for a minimal session frequency of twice a week, include competition occasionally and carefully, ensure safety and keep the walks fun. CONCLUSIONS: The co-design process resulted in recommendations to guide the next steps in the program development process. Additional studies will be performed to improve the enjoyability and feasibility, and to assess the effectiveness of the cognitively enriched walking program to improve cognitive functioning and physical activity in older adults (65+).