The effect of a multicomponent intervention to promote community activity on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention combining physical, cognitive, and social activities developed to promote community activity in improving cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial. Setting A total of 83 Japanese older adults with MCI participated in the study from April to September 2017. Interventions: Participants were randomly assigned to either the multicomponent intervention group (n = 41), attending 90-minute physical, cognitive, or social activity sessions using community resources twice weekly, or the health education control group (n = 42). Outcomes: The primary outcomes were cognitive functions, and the secondary outcomes were grip strength, walking speed, depressive symptoms, physical activities, number of outdoor activities, and conversation time. Results: Analysis using linear mixed models revealed significantly greater improvements in the intervention group in spatial working memory (p = 0.024) following intervention compared with the control group. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p = 0.048) and step count (p = 0.059) decreased from the baseline post-intervention in the control group, whereas the baseline was maintained in the intervention group. No significant between-group differences were found post-intervention in the other primary and secondary outcomes. Conclusions: This study showed that a 24-week multicomponent intervention program was effective in improving spatial working memory and maintaining physical activity in older adults with MCI. A follow-up investigation is required to determine whether continuation of physical, cognitive, and social activity can prevent dementia or reverse MCI in older adults.