TY  - JOUR
AU  - Visvanathan, Rajalaxmi
AU  - Vembudurai, Kavya
AU  - Gopathy, Sridevi
AU  - Sankar, Janaga Ranjani
AU  - Sureshkumar, Sugasri
AU  - Gupta, Meena
AU  - Govindharaj, Mohan Kumar
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/09
TI  - Breaking Cognitive Barriers: Comparing Neurobic and Aerobic Approaches in Dementia Care
JO  - OBM Neurobiology
SP  - 336
VL  - 10
IS  - 02
AB  - The study aimed to compare the effects of neurobic and aerobic approaches in Dementia care. Dementia is a progressive brain disorder that leads to a decline in cognitive abilities, including thinking, reasoning, and memory. In India, it is estimated that 74% of adults aged 60 and older are affected, totaling around 8.8 million individuals. Neurobics refers to exercises designed to enhance oxygen flow and invigorate the brain by engaging in novel activities, situations, or experiences. This may include attending live performances, trying a new sport, exploring new locations, or taking a different route home. Conversely, aerobic exercise, such as walking or jogging, focuses on oxygen consumption to satisfy the body’s metabolic needs. Both neurobics and aerobics support the elderly by fostering cognitive and physical health, respectively. This study seeks to raise awareness about how exercise can help prevent the onset of cognitive decline in older adults. This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in elderly homes around Anakaputhur, Chennai, over 6 months, with an intervention duration of 12 weeks. A total of 50 participants aged 60 years and above were selected using simple random sampling. Both male and female participants were included in the study. Inclusion criteria: individuals with mild to moderate dementia as diagnosed by a neurologist on the Dementia severity scale score 18-36, the ability to follow simple instructions, the capability for light to moderate physical activity, and no history of psychiatric disorders. Exclusion criteria included severe dementia (Dementia severity scale score 37-54), severe cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled psychiatric conditions, mobility issues, and severe hearing or vision loss. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the participants were randomly divided into two equal groups of 25 each: one group underwent neurobics training, and the other underwent aerobics training. Both groups participated in 30-minute sessions, five times per week, for 12 weeks. The intervention aimed to enhance cognitive function and memory. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using standardized tools, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE), and the Digit Span Test. On comparing pre- and post-test within Group A and Group B, the Group B intervention was found to be more effective than Group A on IQCODE, MoCA, and Digit span test, with significant differences in mean values at P < 0.05.
SN  - 2573-4407
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2602336
DO  - 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2602336
ID  - Visvanathan2026
ER  -