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Dual-task performances can be improved in patients with dementia: a randomized controlled trial
Schwenk M, Zieschang T, Oster P, Hauer K.. Neurology, 2010-05-05
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Deficits in attention-related cognitive performance measured as dual-task performance represent early markers of dementia and are associated with motor deficits and increased risk of falling. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a specific dual-task training in patients with mild to moderate dementia. Methods Sixty-one geriatric patients with confirmed dementia took part in a 12-week randomized, controlled trial. Subjects in the intervention group (IG) underwent dual-task-based exercise training. The control group (CG) performed unspecific low-intensity exercise. Motor performance (gait speed, cadence, stride length, stride time, single support) and cognitive performance (serial 2 forward calculation [S2], serial 3 backward calculation [S3]) were examined as single and dual tasks. Decrease in performance during dual tasks compared to single task expressed as motor, cognitive, and combined motor/cognitive dual-task cost (DTC) was calculated before and after intervention. Primary outcome was defined as DTC for gait speed under complex S3 conditions. Results Specific training significantly improved dual-task performance under complex S3 conditions compared to the CG (reduction of DTC: gait speed 21.7% IG, 2.6% CG, p Conclusions The specific exercise program was effective to improve dual-task performance in patients with dementia. Classification of evidence This study provides Class II evidence that specific dual-task training improves dual-task performance during walking under complex S3 conditions in geriatric patients with mild to moderate dementia.
Key findings
- Background Deficits in attention-related cognitive performance measured as dual-task performance represent early markers of dementia and are associated with motor deficits and increased risk of falling.
- Decrease in performance during dual tasks compared to single task expressed as motor, cognitive, and combined motor/cognitive dual-task cost (DTC) was calculated before and after intervention.
- Results Specific training significantly improved dual-task performance under complex S3 conditions compared to the CG (reduction of DTC: gait speed 21.7% IG, 2.6% CG, p Conclusions The specific exercise program was effective to improve dual-task performance in patients with dementia.
Why it matters
In this randomized controlled trial of 61 patients with mild to moderate dementia, a specific dual-task exercise program significantly improved dual-task performance compared with low-intensity exercise. This addresses motor and attention performance, not curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Effect size21.7%; 2.6%
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 69/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 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 | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 248 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.8 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 37.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 8 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 25 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Klaus A. Hauer: h-index 51 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Heidelberg University: institution h-index 1,344 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20445152) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 69 / 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
Schwenk, M., Zieschang, T., Oster, P., & Hauer, K. (2010). Dual-task performances can be improved in patients with dementia: a randomized controlled trial. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181e39696
Vancouver
Schwenk M, Zieschang T, Oster P, Hauer K. Dual-task performances can be improved in patients with dementia: a randomized controlled trial. Neurology. 2010. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181e39696. PMID: 20445152.
BibTeX
@article{schwenk2010-20445152,
author = {Schwenk, M. and Zieschang, T. and Oster, P. and Hauer, K.},
title = {{Dual-task performances can be improved in patients with dementia: a randomized controlled trial}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181e39696},
pmid = {20445152},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181e39696}
}
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