Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41523180›Full record

ReviewJournal of aging research2026

Effects of Dual-Task and Single-Task Interventions on Physical and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Scoping Review.

Deepak Thazhakkattu Vasu, Tammy Pan Jia Yee, Li-Wei Chou, Fong Lai Yen

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of aging research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
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

4 authors.

Deepak Thazhakkattu VasuDepartment of Physiotherapy, M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Sungai Long Campus, Kajang, Malaysia, utar.edu.my.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2833-047X
Tammy Pan Jia YeeDepartment of Physiotherapy, M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Sungai Long Campus, Kajang, Malaysia, utar.edu.my.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7085-4480
Li-Wei ChouDepartment of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan (ROC), nctu.edu.tw.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2368-448X
Fong Lai YenDepartment of Physiotherapy, M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Sungai Long Campus, Kajang, Malaysia, utar.edu.my.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7912-6746

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Dual-task and single-task interventions are strategies to enhance physical and cognitive function in older adults, but their effectiveness in comparison is not well understood. Understanding their effects on cognitive benefits, balance, and overall physical performance is important for developing effective interventions to support aging populations. Objective: This scoping review aims to identify and synthesize current evidence on dual-task and single-task interventions for older adults, categorizing intervention types, study populations, and measured outcomes. Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched. A comprehensive literature search identified studies involving dual-task and single-task interventions from 2014 to July 2024 involving adults aged 60 and older. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Studies were categorized based on task type: motor-cognitive dual-task, motor-motor dual-task, single-motor task, or single cognitive task. Extracted data included intervention characteristics, outcome measures, and key findings. Results: A total of 31 studies met the inclusion criteria with participants being community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and above. Intervention durations ranged from 6 weeks to 12 months, with most studies implementing sessions 2-3 times per week. Outcome measures commonly included assessments of balance, cognitive function, and gait performance. Dual-task interventions demonstrated greater improvements in gait, dynamic balance, and cognitive function compared to single-task interventions with motor-cognitive dual-task training being particularly effective in enhancing balance and mobility in older adults. Conclusion: This review provides a comprehensive comparison of dual-task and single-task interventions, highlighting the superior efficacy of dual-task training in improving both cognitive and physical outcomes. While single-task interventions offer benefits, they lack the comprehensive improvements observed in dual-task training. Future research should explore long-term outcomes, refine intervention protocols, and assess the applicability of combined approaches to maximize benefits for aging populations. And, studies must prioritize reporting effect sizes and minimum clinically important differences (MCID) to ensure findings are clinically relevant.

Indexed as

agingbalancecognitive–motordual-task interventionselderly

Identifiers

PMID41523180
PMCPMC12780542

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.