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Beneficial Effects of Water-Based Exercise Alone and in Combination with Cognitive Training on Cardiovascular Fitness and Arterial Stiffness in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Patcharee Kooncumchoo, Sutaya Meekum, Somrudee Harnmanop, Nongnuch Luangpon, Kornanong Yuenyongchaiwat. Life, 2025-07-28
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the transitional stage between normal cognition and dementia and is associated with arterial stiffness, which may lead to cardiovascular disease. A water-based exercise (W) presents a low-impact activity for the joints and increases resistance compared to exercises performed in the air, which benefits older adults. However, little evidence has been found regarding the effect of W on promoting cognitive and physical performance in older individuals with MCI. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate and compare the post-training effects of W alone and in combination with cognitive training on cognitive function, cardiovascular fitness, and arterial stiffness in older adults with MCI. Forty-six adults with MCI, aged 65 years or older, were enrolled. Participants were divided into two groups: a W group and a water-based exercise combined with cognitive training (W-COG) group. Both groups performed an aerobic exercise program in water for 60 min per/day, 3 day/week, for 12 weeks. Participants in the W-COG group simultaneously performed aerobic exercise and cognitive training in water. Cognitive performance, cardiovascular fitness, and arterial stiffness were examined before and after the intervention. The results revealed improvements in cognitive performance and cardiovascular fitness in both the W and W-COG groups after 12 weeks of intervention. However, there were no significant differences in cognitive and cardiovascular fitness changes between the two groups. Neither the W nor the W-COG groups showed a decrease in brachial pulse wave velocity. Therefore, W interventions have the potential to enhance cognitive function, restore cognition, and improve cardiovascular fitness in older adults with MCI.
Key findings
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the transitional stage between normal cognition and dementia and is associated with arterial stiffness, which may lead to cardiovascular disease.
- A water-based exercise (W) presents a low-impact activity for the joints and increases resistance compared to exercises performed in the air, which benefits older adults.
- The results revealed improvements in cognitive performance and cardiovascular fitness in both the W and W-COG groups after 12 weeks of intervention.
- However, there were no significant differences in cognitive and cardiovascular fitness changes between the two groups.
Why it matters
This randomized trial found that water-based exercise alone and combined with cognitive training improved cognitive performance and cardiovascular fitness in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. It suggests possible benefits for these outcomes, but it does not show that the exercise treats, cures or prevents Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 33/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Life) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Life: journal h-index 109 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Kornanong Yuenyongchaiwat: h-index 13 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Thammasat University: institution h-index 191 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40868843) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 33 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Kooncumchoo, P., Meekum, S., Harnmanop, S., Luangpon, N., & Yuenyongchaiwat, K. (2025). Beneficial Effects of Water-Based Exercise Alone and in Combination with Cognitive Training on Cardiovascular Fitness and Arterial Stiffness in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Life. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15081195
Vancouver
Kooncumchoo P, Meekum S, Harnmanop S, Luangpon N, Yuenyongchaiwat K. Beneficial Effects of Water-Based Exercise Alone and in Combination with Cognitive Training on Cardiovascular Fitness and Arterial Stiffness in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Life. 2025. doi:10.3390/life15081195. PMID: 40868843.
BibTeX
@article{kooncumchoo2025-40868843,
author = {Kooncumchoo, Patcharee and Meekum, Sutaya and Harnmanop, Somrudee and Luangpon, Nongnuch and Yuenyongchaiwat, Kornanong},
title = {{Beneficial Effects of Water-Based Exercise Alone and in Combination with Cognitive Training on Cardiovascular Fitness and Arterial Stiffness in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial}},
journal = {Life},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/life15081195},
pmid = {40868843},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/life15081195}
}
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