A randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of exercise and vitamin B supplementation on cognitive function has revealed gender-specific benefits of physical activity for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The study, conducted in a general community setting, provides new insights into non-pharmacological approaches for managing cognitive decline.
Exercise Benefits Show Gender-Specific Patterns
The research team enrolled 152 community-dwelling adults aged 70-80 years with MCI, randomly assigning them to either a twice-weekly moderate-intensity walking program or a low-intensity placebo activity. The study revealed that consistent participation in the walking program yielded different cognitive benefits for men and women.
For women who maintained regular attendance, each percentage increase in session participation correlated with a 0.3-second improvement in attention (measured by the Stroop combination task, p=0.04) and a 0.04-word improvement in memory performance. Men who attended at least 75% of the sessions demonstrated significant memory enhancement, with an average improvement of 1.5 words (95% CI: 0.1 to 3.0).
Vitamin B Supplementation Shows Limited Impact
Parallel to the exercise intervention, participants were randomized to receive either daily vitamin B supplementation or a placebo. The vitamin regime included:
- 5 mg folic acid
- 0.4 mg vitamin B-12
- 50 mg vitamin B-6
Despite exceptional compliance with the supplementation protocol (median compliance 100%, 25th-75th percentile: 99%-100%), the study found no significant cognitive improvements associated with vitamin B intake over the one-year period.
Program Adherence and Implementation
The walking program faced moderate participation rates, with median session attendance at 63% (25th-75th percentile: 2%-81%). This variation in attendance proved crucial, as cognitive benefits were primarily observed in participants with higher adherence rates.
The findings underscore the importance of consistent participation in physical activity programs for cognitive benefit, while also highlighting the challenges of maintaining regular exercise routines in older adult populations. These results suggest that targeted strategies to improve exercise program adherence might be necessary to achieve optimal cognitive outcomes in older adults with MCI.
