Effects of Resistance Exercise Combined with Cognitive Intervention Therapy on Cognitive Decline: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Cognitively Declining Elderly Population

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> To design a randomized controlled trial combining resistance exercise and cognitive intervention to carry out a dual-task computer-aided product design that combines hardware and software to explore the effects of different intensities of resistance exercise on cognitive function in elderly individuals with cognitive decline. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Forty-eight participants (aged between 60 and 75 years) who satisfied the specified criteria were randomly assigned to one of four groups as follows: control (<i>n</i> = 12), low intensity (<i>n</i> = 12), medium intensity (<i>n</i> = 12), and high intensity (<i>n</i> = 12). The control group exclusively underwent cognitive training, whereas the experimental group underwent dual-task training at varying resistance exercise intensities. The main outcomes were short-term effects on cognitive function and lower limb strength using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), One-Rep Max (1RM) data, and training scores. The secondary outcomes were the effects of the participants' subjective fatigue and the system availability of the product. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The experimental group subjected to medium-intensity exercise exhibited the most substantial improvement in MoCA score (<i>P</i> = 0.017). All the groups achieved training scores that were substantially higher than the initial data (<i>P</i> < 0.05), and significant 1RM values were obtained for the left and right legs in the middle- and high-strength groups (<i>P</i> < 0.05). In addition, the participants indicated a positive experience with the application. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Overall, we found support for the feasibility and acceptability of the product developed by dual-task therapy based on resistance exercise combined with cognitive intervention and showed the initial impact prospect of moderate-intensity resistance exercise. Future applications should be replicated in older individuals with Clinical trial registration: NCT06220565 Ethical approval: H2022013I decline.