Gait and Dual-Task Performance in Older Adults with Suspected Cognitive Impairment: Effects of an 8-Week Exercise Program

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Gait performance in aging relies heavily on cognitive resources, yet the extent to which short-term interventions can mitigate dual-task costs in institutionalized populations remains understudied. This study aimed to compare single and dual-task gait performance between older adults with and without suspected cognitive impairment and to evaluate the effects of an 8-week multicomponent exercise program on functional mobility. <b>Methods:</b> Institutionalized older adults (<i>n</i> = 42) were stratified into two groups: suspected cognitive impairment (<i>n</i> = 26) and no suspected impairment (<i>n</i> = 16), based on MMSE and Clock Drawing Test screening. Participants performed the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Dual-Task TUG (TUG-DT) at baseline and post-intervention. <b>Results:</b> At baseline, the suspected impairment group exhibited significantly poorer performance on both tests (<i>p</i> < 0.001) compared to the non-impaired group. Following the 8-week intervention, the suspected impairment group demonstrated large, significant improvements in both TUG (<i>r</i> = -0.73) and TUG-DT (<i>r</i> = -0.59), whereas the non-impaired group remained stable. Notably, while the single-task TUG showed the greatest responsiveness to the exercise program, the TUG-DT continued to reveal a significant cognitive-motor load. <b>Conclusions:</b> Multicomponent exercise effectively enhances functional mobility in cognitively vulnerable older adults, reversing declines in both single and dual-task conditions. <b>Significance</b>: These findings support the implementation of dual-task screening to unmask latent functional deficits and validate the use of accessible, short-term multicomponent exercise programs as a vital strategy to preserve autonomy in institutionalized older adults.