The Effects of Single Exercise Sessions on Cognitive Flexibility and Brain Functional Connectivity in Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment

Objectives: To investigate the effects of different forms (physical and mental, aerobicand resistance) of single exercise on the cognitive flexibility and brain functionalconnectivity of elderly individuals with cognitive impairment.Clinical trail Methods: This study employed a single‐blind, multi‐center randomizedcontrolled trial. Sixty elderly individuals with cognitive impairment were recruited andrandomly divided into the Qigong group (15 participants), the brisk walking group (15participants), the elastic band group (15 participants), and the control group (15participants). Before and after the intervention, 5‐minute resting‐stateelectroencephalogram signals were collected and cognitive flexibility tests wereconducted. The Qigong group, the brisk walking group, and the elastic band group receivedsingle sessions of Qigong, brisk walking, and elastic band exercises respectively, whilethe control group received health education. The exercise intensity was moderate (targetheart rate was 64%‐76% of the maximum heart rate), and the exercise duration was 30minutes.