Cybercycling Improves Cognitive Function in Elderly

Cay Anderson-Hanley, Ph.D. from the Healthy Aging and Neuropsychology Lab and Department of Psychology at the Union College in Schenectady, NY. wrote;

"Cybercycling older adults achieved better cognitive function than traditional exercisers, for the same effort, suggesting that simultaneous cognitive and physical exercise has greater potential for preventing cognitive decline,"

in a study published online Jan. 17 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The Expresso bikes were used for cybercycling in the study.

The two-year study reveals that virtual reality-enhanced exercise which combine physical exercise with computer-simulated environments and interactive videogame features, can achieve a greater cognitive benefit for older adults than traditional exercise alone.

She and her colleagues conducted a randomized clinical trial comparing the impact of three months of exercise with the Expresso bikes and with traditional stationary bikes on cognitive function in 102 older adults living in eight retirement communities.

Planning, working memory, attention, and problem solving were all functions that were observed throughout the experiment to measure cognitive benefits.