Impact of Dual vs. Single Task Exercise on Cognitive Function, Balance, and Functionality in Type 2 Diabetes

Summary

Diabetes Mellitus is defined as a carbohydrate mechanism disorder in which glucose cannot be used as an adequate energy source and is produced excessively, causing hyperglycemia. For the diagnosis of diabetes, an increase in HbA1c in the blood or a high glucose concentration in venous plasma is examined. Although there are various clinical subtypes, Type 2 diabetes constitutes 90% of the approximately 537 million diabetics worldwide. In the treatment of diabetes, there are pharmacological treatments and lifestyle changes to ensure glycemic control. The most important lifestyle change interventions are balanced calorie intake, increased physical activity and regular exercise.

The effect of exercise on complications associated with Type 2 diabetes, such as improving glycemic control, reducing inflammation and reducing cardiovascular risk, is clear and it is known that these also affect cognition.

In this context, dual-task exercises that can target both the improvement of parameters related to postural control and balance as a physical development and the development of cognitive functions are gaining importance. The aim of dual-task exercises is to direct the person's attention to another source while the first task is being performed. When the literature is examined, there are separate studies on the effects of dual-task exercises on both balance and walking performance and cognitive functions. However, the meta-analyses conducted on these studies emphasize the need for more newly designed studies. Therefore, our study aims to examine the effects of dual-task exercise training, which includes both physical and cognitive parameters, on cognitive functions, balance and functionality in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Patients who applied to the Artvin State Hospital Internal Medicine polyclinic and were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be included in our study. The patients included in the study will be divided into 3 groups: dual-task exercise group, single-task exercise group and control group. Both intervention groups will be included in an exercise program with a physiotherapist 2 days a week for 8 weeks in addition to their medical treatments. The control group will be recommended walking only in addition to their medical treatment during these 8 weeks. All 3 groups will be evaluated twice, at the beginning of the study and at the end of the 8th week.

Conditions

• Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

Interventions

OTHER

Single Task Exercise

Patients will follow the exercises in a way to focus on only one task during the exercise sessions. In the creation of the exercise programme, the principles of the exercise prescription recommended by the American Sports Medicine Association for individuals with adult Type 2 diabetes will be taken into consideration. In this context, planning will be made by considering the progression of stretching, balance and walking exercises from simple to difficult.

OTHER

Dual Task Exercise

Patients enrolled in the dual-task exercise group will perform a second task during the exercise sessions along with the exercises in the single-task exercise group. This second task will be determined individually according to the level and progress of the patient.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Izmir Democracy University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sidrenur Aslan Kolukısa, MSc Pt · Izmir Democracy University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

40 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-10

Primary Completion

2025-10-15

Completion

2025-11-15

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations