Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33632130›Full record

ArticleEuropean review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity2021

A randomized controlled trial into the cognitive effects of a computer-tailored physical activity intervention in older adults with chronic disease(s).

Esmee Volders, Renate H M de Groot, Juul M J Coumans, Catherine A W Bolman, Lilian Lechner

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Esmee VoldersFaculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, 6419, AT, Heerlen, the Netherlands. esmee.volders@ou.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7590-9372
Renate H M de GrootFaculty of Educational Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, 6419, AT, Heerlen, the Netherlands.
Juul M J CoumansFaculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, 6419, AT, Heerlen, the Netherlands.
Catherine A W BolmanFaculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, 6419, AT, Heerlen, the Netherlands.
Lilian LechnerFaculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, 6419, AT, Heerlen, the Netherlands.
Open University of the Netherlands · NLMaastricht University · NL

Funding

Brain Foundation Netherlands GH-2016-03-01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCognitive functioning (CF) is important for wellbeing and an independent life. However, older adults with chronic diseases are at a higher risk of poorer CF levels. Although, research suggests that physical activity (PA) could play an essential role in maintaining good CF, older adults with chronic diseases have low levels of PA. PA interventions to prevent cognitive decline for this specific group exist. Yet, until now these interventions focused on a single specific chronic disease. Active Plus is a proven effective computer-tailored PA stimulating intervention focused on increasing PA in daily life for the older adult population suffering from a broad range of chronic diseases. This study tests the cognitive effects of Active Plus in older adults with chronic diseases.

methodsIn this RCT older adults with at least one chronic disease (≥65 years) were allocated to the intervention group (N = 260, mean age = 74.2) or waiting list control group (N = 325, mean age = 74.5). In total, intervention group participants received three times computer-tailored PA stimulating advice within four months (i.e., at baseline, after two months, and after three to four months). The online and print delivered advice were tailored to the specific needs and wishes of the participant and focused on incorporating PA in daily life. Baseline and follow-up measurements of the CF verbal memory (Verbal Learning Test), shifting (Trailmaking Test), inhibition (Stop-signal Task) and processing speed (Letter Digit Substitution Test) were assessed after six and 12 months. Intervention effects were analyzed with multilevel linear mixed-effects models adjusted for the clustered design and confounding variables.

resultsThe dropout rate was 19.1% after 6 months and 25.1% after 12 months. Although both conditions improved on all verbal memory outcomes after 6 months, and all CF outcomes except inhibition after 12 months, no intervention effects were found, not even in subgroups (p > .05).

conclusionsTo our knowledge this is the first study to test the cognitive effects of a computer-tailored PA stimulating intervention in older adults suffering from a broad range of chronic diseases. The effects of the Active Plus intervention were not strong enough to improve CF or prevent cognitive decline. A blended approach, in which this computer-tailored intervention is combined with a face-to-face PA intervention and / or cognitive training, might be a good suggestion to increase the effects of Active Plus on PA and CF in older adults with chronic diseases.

trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register NL6005; Date of Registration 03-21-2017; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6005.

Indexed as

AgeingChronic diseaseCognitionOlder adultsPhysical activityPhysical activity promotionRandomized intervention

Identifiers

PMID33632130
PMCPMC7908734
OpenAlexW3130992035

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.