Background: Current therapeutic evidence suggests limited efficacy of the cognitive and exercise training in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on depression, anxiety, memory retention, comprehension, calculation, concentration, orientation, dual-task performance, and sleep disorders. Nevertheless, the immediate effects of multimodal cognitive therapy (MCT) have recently developed and its individual effects remains unknown in MCI.
Objective: This study aimed to compare the immediate effects of MCT on cognitive and psychological measures between young healthy and older adults with MCI.
Methods: Forty young healthy and older adults with MCI underwent immediate MCT (5 minutes each), including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), light therapy, computerized cognitive therapy (CCT), robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT), core breathing exercises (CBE), and music therapy. Outcome measures included memory retention, comprehension, calculation, attention, orientation, dual-task performance, awareness, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. The Mann-Whitney U test and Friedman's test were used at P < 0.05.
Results: Significant differences in depression, anxiety, memory retention, comprehension, calculation, attention, orientation, dual-task performance, and awareness were observed between the tDCS, CCT, and music therapy groups (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: MCT was beneficial for mitigating depression, anxiety, memory retention, comprehension, calculation, attention, orientation, dual-task performance, and awareness.
Keywords: Mild cognitive impairment; cognitive rehabilitation; computerized cognitive therapy; core breathing exercises; light therapy; music therapy; robotic-assisted gait training; transcranial direct current stimulation.