Imagine being able to improve your mind and body while playing video games! In a pilot study, scientists developed a custom interactive exergame specifically designed for older adults. The goal was to investigate the feasibility and potential cognitive impact of this training program. Participants, aged 65 years or older, engaged in supervised training sessions that included cognitive and motor dual tasks. The results showed that the program was safe, enjoyable, and had high adherence rates. Interestingly, the exergame demonstrated a potential positive effect on working memory and the cognitive aspect of dual-task conditions. This suggests that the exergame may be an effective method for improving cognitive abilities in older adults. Additionally, it may also contribute to maintaining motor functions, motivation for physical activity, fear of falling, and overall quality of life. These exciting findings pave the way for further exploration and research into the benefits of using exergames as a fun and effective training tool for older adults.

IntroductionDual-task training may be relevant and efficient in the context of active aging. An issue in training programs lies in enhancing the adherence of participants. This can potentially be improved using games as support. We designed and developed a custom interactive exergame in this way. The objective of this pilot study was to explore the potential use of this exergame and the feasibility of our intervention, including the level of safety and adherence. The result’s trends on cognitive and motor capacities, as well as on the level of motivation for physical activity, fear of falling, and quality of life of participants, were also explored.MethodsOlder adults aged 65 years or older were recruited and realized 30 min of supervised training in groups of 4, 2–3 times a week for 12 weeks. Exercises consisted of incorporated cognitive and motor dual tasks, with an increased difficulty over the weeks. Our program’s safety, engagement, attendance, and completion levels were evaluated. Participants’ postural control in single-task and dual-task conditions, as well as their performances in mental inhibition, flexibility, working memory, mobility, and postural control, and their levels of motivation for physical activity, fear of falling, and quality of life were also assessed. We realized a per protocol statistical analysis with a p-value set at 0.05.ResultsThirty-nine participants (aged 84.6 ± 8.5 years) were recruited. No adverse events, and 89% adherence, 88% attendance, and 87% completion rates were observed. A potentially significant effect of our exergame on working memory in single-task conditions and on the cognitive aspect of dual-task conditions was also observed. We observed no differences in other parameters.DiscussionOur exergame seemed feasible and safe and was enjoyed by participants, mainly due to the gamification of our training program. Moreover, our exergame may be efficient for cognitive training in older adults, as well as for the maintenance of motor functions, motivation for physical activity, fear of falling, and quality of life levels. This constitutes the first step for our solution with interesting results that need to be further studied.

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