Effects of Movement-Based Cognitive Rehabilitation on Working Memory and Sustained Attention in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents an intermediate stage between normal cognitive aging and dementia, underscoring the importance of targeted interventions to preserve cognitive function. Objectives: This study investigated the effectiveness of a movement-based cognitive rehabilitation program in improving working memory and sustained attention in individuals with MCI. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control-group design with a 3-month follow-up assessment was used. The target population comprised all individuals diagnosed with MCI who attended cognitive rehabilitation clinics in Tehran during 2024. Thirty participants were recruited using convenience sampling and assigned to either the experimental group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15). Participants in the experimental group completed a 10-session movement-based cognitive rehabilitation protocol, whereas participants in the control group received no intervention during the study period. Working memory was assessed using the Daneman and Carpenter Reading Span Test, and sustained attention was measured using the sustained attention subscale of the Cognitive Abilities Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The cognitive rehabilitation intervention significantly improved working memory and sustained attention in the experimental group compared with the control group (P < 0.01). These improvements remained stable at the 3-month follow-up, indicating the short-term retention of gains. Conclusions: Structured multimodal cognitive rehabilitation that combines cognitive and movement-based elements is an effective clinical intervention for enhancing core executive functions and may help delay cognitive decline in individuals with MCI. However, the specific contributions of the cognitive and motor components remain difficult to disentangle, and longer follow-up periods are required to evaluate the durability of the effects.