The Effects of 8-Week Traditional Aerobic Exercise and Exergaming on Dual-Task Performance and Prefrontal Cortex Activation in Older Adults

Purpose: – This study examined the effects of an 8-wk exergaming (EG) program compared with traditional aerobic exercise on dual-task performance and prefrontal hemodynamics in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: – Thirty-three older adults (21 females, 12 males; mean age = 64.2 ± 5.5 yr) were randomly assigned to either an EG group (n = 16) or an aerobic exercise group (n = 17). Both groups completed supervised moderate-intensity training thrice per week for 30 min 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. Results: – Both interventions substantially enhanced VO2max (P < 0.001), chair stand repetitions (P = 0.009), and timed up-and-go performance (P < 0.001). Behavioral findings exhibited elevated accuracy across all task conditions after training (P < 0.001). The EG group displayed superior performance only in the fast dual-task condition (P = 0.005), whereas no between-group differences were observed in single-task or slow dual-task conditions. Hemodynamic analyses revealed significant reductions in oxygenated (P < 0.003) and total hemoglobin (P = 0.015) over time, with larger reductions observed in the EG group. Deoxygenated hemoglobin did not show significant effects. Conclusions: – 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.