Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42666598›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in aging neuroscience2026

Restoring anticipatory control through cognitive-motor dual-task training improves emotional and executive function in frail older adults.

Luca Boccacci, Martina Scalia, Riccardo Borzuola, Valentina Camomilla, Domenico Campagna, Andrea Casella, Imma Ceriello, Natalie Ferrulli, Margherita Filosa, Chiara Fossati and 10 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Luca BoccacciDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Martina ScaliaDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Riccardo BorzuolaDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Valentina CamomillaDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Domenico CampagnaDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Andrea CasellaDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Imma CerielloDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Natalie FerrulliSanta Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Margherita FilosaDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Chiara FossatiDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Federica GalliDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Andrea MacalusoDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
William ManzonCentre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Foro Italico University Foundation, Rome, Italy.
Camilla PanacciDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Martina ParrellaDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Fabio PigozziDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Sabrina PitzalisDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Franco Pio SicilianoDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Arnaldo ZelliDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Francesco Di RussoDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Aging-related frailty is increasingly recognized as a multidimensional condition involving impairments in cognitive, emotional, and motor domains. Traditional interventions often fail to capture the complexity of real-world functioning, highlighting the need for more ecologically valid approaches. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of a structured Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task Training (CMDT) protocol, incorporating alternating bilateral stimulation (BAS), on emotional regulation, executive function, and anticipatory neural mechanisms in frail and pre-frail older adults. Methods: Thirty participants aged ≥ 65 years were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial and assigned to either a CMDT group or a motor-only control group. The intervention lasted 8 weeks (two sessions per week). Assessments were conducted at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention, and included measures of anxiety (STAI-Y), depression (BDI-II), executive performance (reaction times, variability, and accuracy), functional mobility (BBS, TUG, 10mWT), and high-density EEG during a Go/No-go task to extract anticipatory event-related potentials (prefrontal negativity, pN; Bereitschaftspotential, BP). Results: The CMDT group showed significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms, along with improved executive performance compared to the control group. At the neural level, CMDT enhanced anticipatory activity, reflected by increased pN and BP amplitudes. Mediation analyses revealed that changes in prefrontal anticipatory activity (pN) significantly mediated the relationship between CMDT and emotional improvements, with a full mediation pattern observed for self-reported depressive symptoms and a partial mediation pattern for anxiety. Conclusion: These findings indicate that CMDT enhances anticipatory control mechanisms linking brain function to behavior, supporting both emotional regulation and executive efficiency in frail older adults. By embedding cognitive demands within motor actions, this approach provides a low-cost and scalable intervention with increased ecological relevance, offering a promising strategy for addressing multidimensional vulnerability in aging.

Indexed as

aginganticipatory controlanxietybilateral alternated stimulation (BAS)cognitive–motor dual-task trainingdepressionevent-related potentials (ERP)frailty

Identifiers

PMID42666598
PMCPMC13523101

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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.