Effects of a wearable-assisted walking program on longitudinal trajectories of cognitive function and loneliness in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.
- 1General Education Center, National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, Taipei, 11464, Taiwan. [email protected].
- 2General Education Center, National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, Taipei, 11464, Taiwan.
Abstract
Background
Cognitive decline and loneliness are important challenges in later life. Although walking-based interventions may support cognitive and psychosocial health, less is known about how these outcomes change over time or whether baseline physical capacity explains individual differences in their trajectories. This study examined the parallel growth trajectories of cognitive function and loneliness during a 12-week wearable-assisted walking intervention and evaluated whether baseline muscle health and functional mobility were associated with these changes.Methods
A 12-week, two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 community-dwelling older adults. Participants were randomly assigned to a wearable-assisted walking group (n = 60) or a control group without structured walking intervention (n = 60). Cognitive function, assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and loneliness, assessed using the 8-item UCLA Loneliness Scale, were measured at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12. Baseline appendicular skeletal muscle mass index and timed up-and-go performance were selected a priori as physical predictors. Data were analyzed using conditional parallel-process latent growth curve modeling adjusted for age and education.Results
Compared with the control group, the wearable-assisted walking intervention was associated with a significantly steeper increase in cognitive function (slope estimate = 0.39, p < .001) and a significantly steeper decrease in loneliness (slope estimate = - 1.28, p < .001). The covariance between cognitive and loneliness slopes was not statistically significant, suggesting partially distinct longitudinal trajectories. Poorer baseline functional mobility was associated with higher initial loneliness (intercept estimate = 0.55, p = .001). Lower baseline appendicular skeletal muscle mass index was associated with a greater reduction in loneliness over time (slope estimate = 0.52, p = .010).Conclusions
A 12-week wearable-assisted walking intervention was associated with more favorable longitudinal trajectories of cognitive function and loneliness than the control condition among community-dwelling older adults. Baseline functional mobility was associated with initial loneliness, whereas lower appendicular muscle mass was associated with greater psychosocial improvement. Wearable-assisted walking may represent an accessible strategy for promoting cognitive and psychological well-being in older adults.Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07650292. Registered 16/06/2026. Retrospectively registered.
Related
- Social isolation, self-perceived loneliness, and the 7-year trajectories of depression and cognitive decline: a prospective cohort study
- Participant Characteristics Associated With Loneliness Reduction During a Digital Social Robot Intervention Among Older Adults Living Alone in Japan: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
- Prediction of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease using TabPFN: an integrative analysis of clinical data, longitudinal trajectories, and lipidomics
- An adapted enhanced social prescribing intervention vs. usual care in the treatment of loneliness in cancer survivors: Study protocol for a feasibility pilot randomized controlled trial
- Beyond retest gains: episodic memory practice effects and longitudinal cognitive trajectories in cognitively healthy adults
BibTeX
@article{wu2026effects,
title = {{Effects of a wearable-assisted walking program on longitudinal trajectories of cognitive function and loneliness in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.}},
author = {Cheng-En Wu and Wei-Yang Huang},
journal = {BMC geriatrics},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12877-026-08109-y},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009810},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of a wearable-assisted walking program on longitudinal trajectories of cognitive function and loneliness in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.
AU - Cheng-En Wu
AU - Wei-Yang Huang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/13
JO - BMC geriatrics
DO - 10.1186/s12877-026-08109-y
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009810
AB - Background Cognitive decline and loneliness are important challenges in later life. Although walking-based interventions may support cognitive and psychosocial health, less is known about how these outcomes change over time or whether baseline physical capacity explains individual differences in their trajectories. This study examined the parallel growth trajectories of cognitive function and loneliness during a 12-week wearable-assisted walking intervention and evaluated whether baseline muscle health and functional mobility were associated with these changes.Methods A 12-week, two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 community-dwelling older adults. Participants were randomly assigned to a wearable-assisted walking group (n = 60) or a control group without structured walking intervention (n = 60). Cognitive function, assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and loneliness, assessed using the 8-item UCLA Loneliness Scale, were measured at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12. Baseline appendicular skeletal muscle mass index and timed up-and-go performance were selected a priori as physical predictors. Data were analyzed using conditional parallel-process latent growth curve modeling adjusted for age and education.Results Compared with the control group, the wearable-assisted walking intervention was associated with a significantly steeper increase in cognitive function (slope estimate = 0.39, p < .001) and a significantly steeper decrease in loneliness (slope estimate = - 1.28, p < .001). The covariance between cognitive and loneliness slopes was not statistically significant, suggesting partially distinct longitudinal trajectories. Poorer baseline functional mobility was associated with higher initial loneliness (intercept estimate = 0.55, p = .001). Lower baseline appendicular skeletal muscle mass index was associated with a greater reduction in loneliness over time (slope estimate = 0.52, p = .010).Conclusions A 12-week wearable-assisted walking intervention was associated with more favorable longitudinal trajectories of cognitive function and loneliness than the control condition among community-dwelling older adults. Baseline functional mobility was associated with initial loneliness, whereas lower appendicular muscle mass was associated with greater psychosocial improvement. Wearable-assisted walking may represent an accessible strategy for promoting cognitive and psychological well-being in older adults.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07650292. Registered 16/06/2026. Retrospectively registered.
SN - 1471-2318
ER -