Neural Correlates of Exergame Interventions in Older Adults with or Without a Neurocognitive Disorder: A Systematic Review

  1. Elpidio Attoh-Mensah
  2. Jean-François BEL
  3. Karim El Ayoubi
  4. Arnaud Boujut
  5. Stephen Ramanoel
  6. Anaïck Perrochon

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Abstract

Exergames (EG) are interactive video games that require physical activity and use gamification to make exercise more engaging. EG interventions have shown various benefits for older adults, such as improved mental health, quality of life, and reduced fall risk. Enhanced cognition is thought to drive these benefits. This review aimed to identify neural correlates underlying cognitive improvements in healthy older adults and those with neurocognitive disorders. We systematically searched major databases and included 13 studies from 2,095 records. Findings revealed that EG interventions led to structural brain changes and improved functional connectivity in healthy adults, Parkinson patients, and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Increased activity in the frontal, temporal, and precuneus regions during rest was specific to adults with neurocognitive disorders. Neuroplastic changes, such as elevated BDNF levels and increased neurovascular coupling, were observed in both groups. However, methodological limitations in some studies highlight the need for further high-quality research.

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    This Zenodo record is a permanently preserved version of a Structured PREreview. You can view the complete PREreview at https://prereview.org/reviews/16890464.

    Does the introduction explain the objective of the research presented in the preprint? Yes The authors gave a broad overview of the subject with a logical flow, aligning with the study's objectives. The objectives were stated in the last paragraph of the introduction and read as follows: "First, we aimed to expand on previous review studies by examining recent studies that shed light on the neural correlates of EG interventions in aging, focusing on changes in the brain structure, functional networks and molecular markers.Second, we extended the range of our population of interest to include older adults with a neurocognitive disorder, assessing whether EG interventions impacted neural correlates relevant to these diseases."
    Are the methods well-suited for this research? Highly appropriate The authors used a structured search strategy guided by PRISMA guidelines and a PICO framework. This is appropriate for a systematic review, ensuring transparency and reproducibility while reducing bias.
    Are the conclusions supported by the data? Highly supported
    Are the data presentations, including visualizations, well-suited to represent the data? Highly appropriate and clear The data presentations and visualizatons were highly appropriate for a secondary study.
    How clearly do the authors discuss, explain, and interpret their findings and potential next steps for the research? Very clearly The findings were well-structured and organized into categories. The use of citations in the second figure is especially commendable.
    Is the preprint likely to advance academic knowledge? Highly likely
    Would it benefit from language editing? No While the paper does not require major rewriting, it would benefit from editing to improve the flow and readability. For instance: 1. "Mixt reality": Introduction section, last line of second paragraph. 2. "CRUNCH hypothesis": The full meaning of the abbreviation was not given before its use.
    Would you recommend this preprint to others? Yes, but it needs to be improved
    Is it ready for attention from an editor, publisher or broader audience? Yes, after minor changes Kindly refer to the comment in the section on language editing.

    Competing interests

    The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

  2. Version published to 10.20944/preprints202410.0965.v1