Synergic trial secondary outcomes results on gait and falls

TL;DR

Combining exercise and cognitive training helps older adults with mild cognitive issues walk better and fall less, while vitamin D does not add benefits.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that combining aerobic-resistance exercise with cognitive training is effective in improving gait and reducing falls in older adults with MCI.

Findings

Exercise-based interventions improved gait speed by 7.5 cm/s and reduced injurious falls by 62%.

Exercise plus cognitive training showed the greatest gains in gait and the most significant reduction in injurious falls.

Vitamin D supplementation did not enhance outcomes and increased gait instability.

Abstract

Older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) have higher risk of gait impairments and falls, yet the effects of multimodal interventions, including combinations of exercises with cognitive training, on improving their mobility remain unclear.

To investigate the synergistic effects of aerobic-resistance exercise combined with cognitive training, with or without vitamin D supplementation, on gait performance and fall risk in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

The effect of 20 weeks of aerobic-resistance exercise, cognitive training, and vitamin D supplementation (10,000 IU 3x/week) on gait and falls in older adults with MCI was evaluated in the SYNERGIC Trial, using a fractional factorial design.

Among 161 participants, exercise-based arms (n = 4) improved gait speed (+7.5 cm/s, p < 0.001) and reduced injurious falls by 62% (IRR=0.38, p = 0.04). Exercise plus cognitive training showed the greatest gains in gait speed and reduced injurious falls (IRR=0.13, p = 0.05). Vitamin D did not enhance outcomes and increased gait instability.

Aerobic-resistance exercise combined with cognitive training improves gait performance and decreases the risk of injurious falls in older adults with MCI. The addition of vitamin D did not produce benefits.