Physio-cognitive dual-task training (PCDT) has emerged as a potential intervention for enhancing cognitive and physical outcomes in older adults with neurocognitive disorders. A comprehensive evaluation of 17 reviews encompassing 47 unique meta-analyses and 81 studies was conducted to assess the effectiveness of PCDT on global cognition, health-related quality of life, and physical outcomes such as activities of daily living, gait, and balance. The findings suggest small but significant improvements in global cognition and health-related quality of life, although the effects on physical outcomes were non-significant.

The significance of these findings lies in their implications for clinical practice and therapeutic strategies. While PCDT appears to offer some benefits, particularly for individuals with mild cognitive impairment, the evidence quality is predominantly low or critically low. The meta-level analyses indicated that higher frequencies of PCDT sessions correlate with greater cognitive benefits, but the prediction intervals raised concerns about the reliability of these outcomes. Notably, individuals with established dementia showed minimal improvement, highlighting the need for tailored interventions based on the severity of cognitive decline.

The takeaway from this study is the urgent need for high-quality systematic reviews to clarify the effectiveness of PCDT and its applicability in clinical settings. The current evidence suggests that while PCDT may hold promise, its role in cognitive enhancement for those with advanced dementia remains questionable. This underscores a shift in research focus towards developing more robust methodologies and understanding the nuanced effects of PCDT across different stages of neurocognitive disorders, which could ultimately influence drug development timelines and intervention strategies in aging populations.

Source: academic.oup.com