| Article written by Doctoral candidate George Radzyminski |
As we age, many of us become more aware of the small slips in memory or focus—forgetting where we placed the keys, why we walked into a room, or the name of someone we just met. While these changes can feel inevitable, an exciting new study demonstrates that growing older doesn’t have to mean cognitive decline. In fact, we might be able to train our brains to stay sharp—just like we train our bodies to stay fit.
That’s exactly what my recent study set out to explore. The study, conducted at Activate Brain and Body, through Concordia University, looked at whether combining functional physical fitness with brain training could help adults over 50 not only maintain but potentially improve their cognitive functioning.
What Was the Study About?
The research focused on Activate’s Dual Task Fitness Program (DTFP), a unique workout approach that combines traditional functional exercises (such as squats or rowing) with cognitive challenges. These cognitive tasks included using tools like the SmartFit interactive board, engaging in brain games, and performing activities that required focus, memory, and coordination during workouts.
The premise was straightforward yet compelling: since physical activity enhances brain health and cognitive training helps maintain mental function, could integrating both simultaneously yield even greater cognitive benefits?
This study aimed to compare the cognitive outcomes of two groups: the DTFP group, which combined physical and cognitive exercises, and an exercise only group, which performed functional exercises without cognitive challenges. The primary objective was to determine whether integrating cognitive tasks with physical activity would result in superior cognitive improvements.
The DTFP group initially consisted of 25 participants and concluded with 23, with an average age of 62.3 years and 82.7% female representation. In contrast, the exercise only group started with 24 participants but had a higher dropout rate, ending with 18 participants, an average age of 59.7 years, and 83.3% female participation.
The study lasted 12 weeks, during which each group participated in two one-hour Activate training sessions per week, led by a certified Activate Brain Coach. Both groups performed identical functional training exercises; however, the key difference was that the DTFP group also engaged in cognitive exercises during their workouts, while the Exercise-Only group did not.
How Was It Measured?
To evaluate the impact, the study used the Creyos cognitive assessment tool. Creyos is a digital platform developed at the University of Cambridge that evaluates memory, attention, and reasoning. This test was given to all participants at the beginning and the end of the study. The results were then interpreted.
What Did the Study Find?
Results are promising! When comparing the two groups, independent t-tests revealed that the DTFP group significantly outperformed the exercise only group in Verbal Short-Term Memory (p = 0.020) and Visual-Spatial Working Memory (p = 0.031). These findings suggest that dual-task training provides distinct cognitive benefits beyond those achieved through exercise alone. Since verbal short-term memory is essential for processing conversations, remembering instructions, and learning new information, the improvement seen in the DTFP group may have meaningful real-world applications for older adults. Similarly, the significant enhancement in visuospatial working memory, which supports mental mapping and spatial organization, highlights the potential of cognitive-motor integration to strengthen neural pathways involved in spatial reasoning. Although other cognitive domains, such as Working Memory, Episodic Memory, and Verbal Reasoning, showed greater numerical improvements in the DTFP group, these differences did not reach statistical significance.
Overall, the results indicate that dual-task training enhances cognitive function more effectively than exercise alone, particularly in areas related to memory retention and impulse control. The integration of cognitive engagement with physical movement appears to provide additional stimulation to neural pathways associated with memory, attention, and executive control, leading to more robust cognitive benefits. While both interventions contributed to cognitive improvements, the CAFP group consistently demonstrated stronger gains across most measures.
These findings highlight the potential for multimodal training programs to support cognitive resilience and mitigate cognitive decline in older adults. Given that verbal short-term memory, response inhibition, and spatial short-term memory are essential for daily functioning—enabling effective communication, decision-making, and spatial awareness—the improvements seen in the DTFP group suggest that dual-task interventions could play a critical role in preserving cognitive health. Future research should explore the optimal duration, intensity, and complexity of cognitive challenges within exercise programs to further maximize their benefits. Given the growing emphasis on brain health, dual-task interventions may serve as a valuable strategy for improving cognitive function and overall well-being in aging populations.
Why Does This Matter?
Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, affects more than 55 million people globally and is projected to rise sharply as the population ages. But this study suggests there’s a proactive path forward. Combining brain and body workouts could delay or even prevent cognitive decline, supporting better memory, focus, and independence well into older age.
This is more than just an academic breakthrough. It could change how we think about aging and fitness—moving from a “use it or lose it” mindset to a “train it to gain it” approach.
The takeaway? It’s never too late to train your brain—just start moving and thinking, all at once.