Effect of boxing exergame addition on cognitive function of elderly women

The elderly population is increasing rapidly. The aging process will have an impact on the decline in cognitive function. The frequency of cognitive impairment is higher in women than in men so that the risk of decreased quality of life and dependence is greater. Physical exercise can improve cognitive function in the normal aging process, one type is exergame boxing. This study aims to analyze the effect of the addition of exergame boxing on cognitive function of elderly women. The subjects were 30 elderly women, divided into treatment and control groups. Participants in the treatment group received exergame boxing three times per week for eight weeks. Participants in both groups were required to participate in light intensity aerobic exercise five times a week for ±15 minutes. Indonesian version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-Ina) scores were assessed before and after eight weeks of exercise. There was a significant increase in cognitive function after the addition of exergame boxing for eight weeks in the treatment group (p = 0.003) with an effect size of 1.07 and in the control group, light-intensity aerobic exercise was provided as a standalone intervention (p = 0.028) with an effect size of 0.6. There was a significant difference in the treatment group compared to the control group who received the addition of exergame boxing training for eight weeks compared to the control group who only received light intensity aerobic exercise (p = 0.033). Addition of boxing exergames for eight weeks can improve cognitive function in elderly women.