Combined physical and cognitive training in a community aging center serving a socioeconomically vulnerable population: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND: Structured physical activity programs are increasingly promoted to maintain functional capacity in older adults; however, evidence regarding their implementation in real-world community settings, particularly in socioeconomically vulnerable populations, remains limited. Multimodal interventions integrating physical and cognitive components may provide additional benefits, yet feasibility data from resource-constrained environments are scarce. This single-arm feasibility study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and adherence of a combined physical and cognitive training program delivered in a community aging center serving a socioeconomically vulnerable population with exploratory assessment of functional and cognitive outcomes. METHODS: In this single-arm feasibility study, 50 community-dwelling adults aged > 55 years attending a community aging center serving a socioeconomically vulnerable population were enrolled following medical, physical, and neuropsychological screening; 46 completed the intervention and post-intervention assessment. Participants attended one-hour sessions conducted on alternate days for four months, alternating between structured physical exercise and supervised cognitive activities. Primary feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention, adherence, and safety. Secondary exploratory outcomes included functional capacity assessed by the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and cognitive performance assessed using the abbreviated NEUROPSI battery. Within-participant changes were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. RESULTS: Of 50 enrolled participants, 46 (92%) completed the intervention and post-intervention assessment. Mean attendance was 18.7 ± 9.3 h (range 3-39). No adverse events attributable to the intervention were reported. Mean 6MWT distance increased from baseline to post-intervention by 140 m (Cohen's d = 1.58, p < 0.001), while oxygen saturation and blood pressure responses remained stable. Improvements in walking distance were moderately associated with session attendance. Modest increases were also observed in global cognitive performance at post-intervention. Given the single-arm design and interval between baseline and intervention, outcome findings should be interpreted as exploratory. CONCLUSIONS: A structured combined physical and cognitive training program was feasible and safe in a community aging center serving a socioeconomically vulnerable population, with high retention and no intervention-related adverse events. Improvements in functional capacity were observed, with exploratory evidence of cognitive change. These findings support the practicality of implementing supervised multimodal programs in real-world community environments and provide a foundation for future controlled studies.