A Two-Phased Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of the Cognitively Enriched Walking Program “Take a Walk with Your Brain” for Older Adults
Given the aging population, finding solutions to retain optimal cognitive capacity is a research priority. The potential of physical activity to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and to enhance cognitive functioning is established. Combining physical with cognitive activity has been put forward a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Aging Research |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/2438067 |
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| author | Pauline Hotterbeex Melanie Beeckman Pieter-Jan Marent Julie Latomme Fien De Block Lauren De Baets Sebastien Chastin Greet Cardon Jannique G. Z. van Uffelen |
| author_facet | Pauline Hotterbeex Melanie Beeckman Pieter-Jan Marent Julie Latomme Fien De Block Lauren De Baets Sebastien Chastin Greet Cardon Jannique G. Z. van Uffelen |
| author_sort | Pauline Hotterbeex |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Given the aging population, finding solutions to retain optimal cognitive capacity is a research priority. The potential of physical activity to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and to enhance cognitive functioning is established. Combining physical with cognitive activity has been put forward as a potentially even more effective way to promote healthy cognitive aging. Most studies on combined interventions have however been conducted in laboratory settings. This paper reports on a two-phased pilot study evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of a newly developed real-life cognitively enriched walking program for adults aged 65+ years. In Phase I, the feasibility and enjoyability of the cognitive tasks was evaluated by conducting walk-along interviews with older adults (n = 163). In Phase II, the cognitively enriched walking program was piloted in two groups of older adults (n = 19), and the feasibility and acceptability of the program and cognitive tasks was evaluated by means of questionnaires and focus groups. The cognitive tasks (i.e., median scores of ≥3 on a total of 4 (Phase I) and ≥6 on a total of 10 (Phase II) for most of the tasks) and the cognitively enriched walking program (i.e., median scores of ≥7 on a total of 10) were considered feasible and acceptable. Based on the input of the participants, key considerations for a feasible and acceptable program were defined: participants should be sufficiently challenged cognitively and physically, social interaction is an important motivator, cognitive tasks should make use of stimuli reflecting daily life and be conducted in group, the rationale for the tasks should be explained to participants, the frequency of the group sessions should be maximum 2 times a week, and the program should be supervised by a trained coach. These results warrant future research to establish the effectiveness of this program. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ccfbbdf8a70f43ab9d8a1a46164eff63 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2090-2212 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Aging Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-ccfbbdf8a70f43ab9d8a1a46164eff632025-08-20T03:19:32ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22122024-01-01202410.1155/2024/2438067A Two-Phased Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of the Cognitively Enriched Walking Program “Take a Walk with Your Brain” for Older AdultsPauline Hotterbeex0Melanie Beeckman1Pieter-Jan Marent2Julie Latomme3Fien De Block4Lauren De Baets5Sebastien Chastin6Greet Cardon7Jannique G. Z. van Uffelen8Department of Movement SciencesArtevelde University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Movement SciencesDepartment of Movement and Sports SciencesDepartment of Movement and Sports SciencesDepartment of Movement and Sports SciencesDepartment of Movement and Sports SciencesDepartment of Movement and Sports SciencesDepartment of Movement SciencesGiven the aging population, finding solutions to retain optimal cognitive capacity is a research priority. The potential of physical activity to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and to enhance cognitive functioning is established. Combining physical with cognitive activity has been put forward as a potentially even more effective way to promote healthy cognitive aging. Most studies on combined interventions have however been conducted in laboratory settings. This paper reports on a two-phased pilot study evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of a newly developed real-life cognitively enriched walking program for adults aged 65+ years. In Phase I, the feasibility and enjoyability of the cognitive tasks was evaluated by conducting walk-along interviews with older adults (n = 163). In Phase II, the cognitively enriched walking program was piloted in two groups of older adults (n = 19), and the feasibility and acceptability of the program and cognitive tasks was evaluated by means of questionnaires and focus groups. The cognitive tasks (i.e., median scores of ≥3 on a total of 4 (Phase I) and ≥6 on a total of 10 (Phase II) for most of the tasks) and the cognitively enriched walking program (i.e., median scores of ≥7 on a total of 10) were considered feasible and acceptable. Based on the input of the participants, key considerations for a feasible and acceptable program were defined: participants should be sufficiently challenged cognitively and physically, social interaction is an important motivator, cognitive tasks should make use of stimuli reflecting daily life and be conducted in group, the rationale for the tasks should be explained to participants, the frequency of the group sessions should be maximum 2 times a week, and the program should be supervised by a trained coach. These results warrant future research to establish the effectiveness of this program.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/2438067 |
| spellingShingle | Pauline Hotterbeex Melanie Beeckman Pieter-Jan Marent Julie Latomme Fien De Block Lauren De Baets Sebastien Chastin Greet Cardon Jannique G. Z. van Uffelen A Two-Phased Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of the Cognitively Enriched Walking Program “Take a Walk with Your Brain” for Older Adults Journal of Aging Research |
| title | A Two-Phased Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of the Cognitively Enriched Walking Program “Take a Walk with Your Brain” for Older Adults |
| title_full | A Two-Phased Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of the Cognitively Enriched Walking Program “Take a Walk with Your Brain” for Older Adults |
| title_fullStr | A Two-Phased Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of the Cognitively Enriched Walking Program “Take a Walk with Your Brain” for Older Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Two-Phased Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of the Cognitively Enriched Walking Program “Take a Walk with Your Brain” for Older Adults |
| title_short | A Two-Phased Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of the Cognitively Enriched Walking Program “Take a Walk with Your Brain” for Older Adults |
| title_sort | two phased pilot study evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of the cognitively enriched walking program take a walk with your brain for older adults |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/2438067 |
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