1 Department of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
2 Research Centre, Montreal Heart Institute, Montréal, Canada.
3 Research Centre, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
4 PERFORM Centre, Concordia University, Montréal, Canada.
5 Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
6 EA 2114, Psychologie des Âges de la Vie et Adaptation, University of Tours, Tours, France.
7 Research Centre, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
8 Laboratory MOVE (EA 6314), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France.
9 Département des Sciences de l'Activité Physique, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
10 Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

Objectives: Studies suggest that cognitive training and physical activity can improve age-related deficits in dual-task performances. However, both of these interventions have never been compared in the same study. This paper investigates the improvement in dual-task performance in two types of exercise training groups and a cognitive training group, and explores if there are specific dual-task components that are more sensitive or more likely to improve following each type of training.

Methods: Seventy-eight healthy inactive participants over the age of 60 (M=69.98, SD=5.56) were randomized to one of three 12-week training programs: Aerobic (AET)=26, Gross Motor Abilities (GMA)=27, Cognition (COG)=25. Before and after the training program, the participants underwent physical fitness tests, and cognitive evaluations involving a computerized cognitive dual-task. The AET consisted of high and low intensity aerobic training, the GMA of full-body exercises focusing on agility, balance, coordination, and stretching, and the COG of tablet-based exercises focusing on executive functions.

Results: Repeated measures ANOVA on reaction time data revealed a group X time interaction (F(2,75) = 11.91, P < .01) with COG having the greatest improvement, followed by a significant improvement in the GMA group. Secondary analysis revealed the COG to also improve the intraindividual variability in reaction time (F(1,24) = 8.62, P < .01), while the GMA improved the dual-task cost (F(1,26) = 12.74, P < .01).

Discussion: The results show that physical and cognitive training can help enhance dual-task performance by improving different aspects of the task, suggesting that different mechanisms are in play.