Effects of interactive physical-activity video-game training on physical and cognitive function in older adults.

Maillot, Pauline; Perrot, Alexandra; Hartley, Alan A. · 2011 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1037/a0026268

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Summary

This study investigates whether interactive physical-activity video games, or "exergames," can improve both physical and cognitive function in older adults. The research addresses the challenge of low exercise adherence among the elderly by combining the cognitive benefits of physical activity with the intrinsic motivation of video gaming. The authors hypothesized that training with physically simulated sports would enhance performance on the games themselves and transfer to broader neuropsychological domains, specifically executive control, visuospatial functions, and processing speed. The study employed a pretest-training-posttest design with 32 independently living older adults (aged 65–78) who were sedentary and had no prior video game experience. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=15) or a no-contact control group (n=15). The experimental group underwent 24 hours of training over 12 weeks, consisting of two one-hour sessions per week using the Nintendo Wii system. The training involved physically simulated sports such as tennis, boxing, skiing, and hula hooping, supervised by a physical trainer to ensure safety and proper form. The control group maintained their sedentary lifestyle. Assessments included a functional fitness battery (e.g., chair-stand, 6-minute walk, agility tests) and a comprehensive cognitive battery measuring executive control, visuospatial ability, and processing speed. Results indicated that the training group significantly improved their performance on the exergames across balance, cognitive, energy, and global tasks. Crucially, the experimental group showed significantly greater improvements than the control group in physical function measures and in cognitive tests of executive control and processing speed. However, no significant transfer effects were observed for visuospatial measures. Heart rate data revealed that the training did not significantly alter cardiovascular intensity metrics, suggesting that the cognitive benefits were not solely driven by improvements in cardiovascular fitness. Participants reported high adherence (97.5%) and found the training manageable and comparable to conventional physical activity. The findings suggest that exergame training is an effective intervention for enhancing physical fitness and specific cognitive domains in older adults, particularly executive control and processing speed. The study demonstrates that the cognitive benefits of physical activity can be achieved through engaging, non-traditional exercise modalities that may improve adherence. These results support the potential of exergames as a viable tool for promoting healthy aging and functional independence, offering a practical alternative to conventional exercise programs that often face resistance due to perceived unattractiveness or difficulty.

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• older driver retraining