P1‐411: Multiple Modality Exercise Improves Executive Control in Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Complaints

The population of older adults is increasing and along with this comes an increased incidence of chronic diseases, including dementia. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are associated with large societal and healthcare burden. Older adults who express a subjective cognitive complaint are at an increased risk of cognitive decline. To reduce the risk of future cognitive decline, aerobic and resistance exercise have independently been shown to improve cognitive function. A 24-week multiple modality exercise program with or without a mind-motor exercise component is predicted to improve executive functioning through antisaccade eye-tracking performance. Community-dwelling older adults (55+) with a subjective cognitive complaint were recruited to participate in a 1-year randomized controlled trial (n= 65) in Woodstock Ontario Canada. Group allocation (1:1) were: 1) Multiple modality + mind-motor exercise (M4) or 2) Multiple modality exercise (M2). Participants completed a 24-week community based senior’s fitness class for 60 minutes, 3 times per week. Both groups completed aerobic exercise, resistance training and either: balance training (M2) or mind-motor exercise (M4). Participants were assessed on executive-related changes in cognition through baseline and 24-week examination of antisaccade performance. An antisaccade task is the action of looking in the mirror symmetrical location of a presented stimulus on a computer screen. Participants were on average 67 (55-88) years of age, 75% female with an average MMSE and MoCA score of 29 ±1.1 and 26 ±2.4, respectively. In a task by time analysis (i.e. pro-saccade and antisaccade x baseline and 24-week), antisaccade reaction time improved by 23ms at 24-weeks across both groups, where F(1,62)=15.09, p=0.0002, with a medium effect size, ηp2=0.20. Differences were not seen in antisaccade reaction time between M2 and M4 groups at 24-weeks. Twenty-four weeks of multiple modality exercise improves the efficiency of antisaccade reaction time, irrespective of a mind-motor exercise component. This evidence demonstrates a mechanistic approach that multiple modality exercise improves response inhibition, a component of executive functioning, in older adults with self-reported cognitive complaints. This evidence adds to the literature that combining aerobic and resistance training can improve executive function in older adults with declining cognition. Funding: CIHR#MOP-130474 and St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation #048-1415.