398
Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 2009, 17, 398-415
© 2009 Human Kinetics, Inc.
Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Walking
Program for Community-Dwelling Older
Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Jannique G.Z. van Uffelen, Marijke J.M. Chinapaw,
Marijke Hopman-Rock, and Willem van Mechelen
This study examined the feasibility and effect on aerobic fitness of a 1-yr, twice-
weekly, group-based moderate-intensity walking program (MI-WP, n = 77) compared
with a low-intensity activity program (LI-AP, n = 75) for community-dwelling older
adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Thirty participants did not start a pro-
gram; median attendance in the other 122 participants was 71%. Small but significant
associations were observed between attendance and memory in the MI-WP and gen-
eral cognition in the LI-AP. Associations were no longer significant when both groups
were analyzed together. Intensity, assessed using percentage of heart-rate reserve and
the Borg scale, equaled intended intensity for both programs. Aerobic fitness improved
significantly in participants in the MI-WP. In conclusion, cognition was not clearly
associated with attendance in the 62 participants starting the MI-WP, and average
attendance was good. The intensity was feasible for participants who continued the
MI-WP. The findings support the proposal that regular moderate-intensity walking
improves aerobic fitness in adults with MCI.
Keywords: cognition, exercise, aerobic fitness, randomized controlled trial
Older adults are encouraged to pursue active lifestyles (Nelson et al., 2007).
In the long term, physical activity, and more specifically aerobic exercise, can
prevent the development and progression of age-related chronic diseases such as
cardiovascular disease and diabetes (Nelson et al.; Peel, McClure, & Bartlett,
2005; Taylor et al., 2004). Other benefits of regular aerobic exercise include
improvements in overall functioning because of enhanced physiologic capacity
(Bean, Vora, & Frontera, 2004), better mental health (Netz, Wu, Becker, & Tenen-
baum, 2005), and improved cognitive function (Colcombe & Kramer, 2003).
Most studies on the benefits of physical activity and exercise for older adults
have focused on those who are cognitively healthy (Bean et al., 2004; Taylor et al.,
van Uffelen is with Body@Work, Research Center Physical Activity, Work and Health, TNO-VU
University Medical Center, the Netherlands. Chinapaw and van Mechelen are with the Dept. of Public
and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical
Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Hopman-Rock is with the Dept. of Physical Activity and Health,
TNO Quality of Life, Leiden, the Netherlands.