The Effects of Eight-Week Traditional Aerobic Exercise and Exergaming on Dual-Task Performance and Prefrontal Cortex Activation in Older Adults.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of an eight-week exergaming (EG) program compared with traditional aerobic exercise on dual-task performance and prefrontal hemodynamics in middle-aged and older adults. Thirty-three older adults (21 females, 12 males; mean age = 64.2 ± 5.5 years) were randomly assigned to either an EG group (n = 16) or an aerobic exercise (AE) group (n = 17). Both groups completed supervised moderate-intensity training thrice per week for 30 minutes per session. Before and after the intervention, the participants performed a Stroop task under single-task, slow dual-task, and fast dual-task conditions. Behavioral accuracy was recorded, and prefrontal oxygenated, deoxygenated, and total hemoglobin concentrations were analyzed utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Physical fitness measures included estimated VO₂max, chair stand, arm curl, and timed up-and-go performance. Both interventions substantially enhanced VO₂max (p <.001), chair stand repetitions (p =.009), and timed up-and-go performance (p <.001). Behavioral findings exhibited elevated accuracy across all task conditions after training (p <.001). The EG group displayed superior performance only in the fast dual-task condition (p =.005), whereas no between-group differences were observed in single-task or slow dual-task conditions. Hemodynamic analyses revealed significant reductions in oxygenated (p <.003) and total hemoglobin (p =.015) over time, with larger reductions observed in the EG group. Deoxygenated hemoglobin did not show significant effects. Both training modalities improved physical fitness and task performance. EG provided additional benefits under the most demanding dual-task condition and was associated with more efficient prefrontal activation.