Dementia significantly influences the ability to learn new motor skills, primarily due to the cognitive and neurological impairments that characterize the condition. Dementia is a progressive disorder that affects memory, executive functions, attention, and motor coordination, all of which are essential for acquiring and refining new motor skills. The process of learning motor skills involves complex brain functions, including the integration of sensory input, motor planning, and execution, which are disrupted in dementia.
Motor skill learning depends on several brain regions, including the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and motor cortex, as well as cognitive areas such as the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, causes degeneration and dysfunction in these areas, leading to difficulties in motor learning. For example, vascular dementia, which results from cerebrovascular damage, impairs both cognitive and motor functions, making it harder for individuals to coordinate movements and remember motor sequences[1].
Research shows that individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia experience declines in motor skills and cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and executive function, which are crucial for learning new motor tasks. A study combining cognitive stimulation with psychomotor exercises found that participants with vascular mild cognitive impairment and vascular dementia showed improvements in psychomotor skills and some cognitive functions after intervention, suggesting that motor work can stimulate cognitive processes and potentially slow decline[1][2]. However, the progression of dementia typically leads to a gradual loss of these abilities, making new motor skill acquisition increasingly challenging.
The decline in executive functions, which include planning, problem-solving, and task switching, is particularly impactful on motor learning. Executive dysfunction in dementia reduces the ability to adapt to new motor tasks or modify movements based on feedback. Additionally, impairments in attention and visuospatial abilities hinder the processing of sensory information necessary for motor coordination and learning[1][2].
Physical activity and combined cognitive-motor training have been shown to have beneficial effects on motor skills and cognitive function in people with MCI and dementia. Interventions such as exergaming, which combines physical exercise with cognitive challenges through interactive video games, have demonstrated potential in slowing cognitive decline and improving motor function in Alzheimer’s patients[4]. Similarly, dual-task training, which involves performing cognitive and motor tasks simultaneously, enhances neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections—thereby supporting motor learning and cognitive function[5].
The underlying mechanism for these benefits involves exercise-induced increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promotes neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Cognitive training guides this plasticity by reinforcing the survival and integration of new neurons and connections, which is crucial for learning new skills[5]. This synergistic effect is particularly important in dementia, where neurodegeneration disrupts normal brain function.
Despite these promising interventions, the ability to learn new motor skills in dementia remains limited by the severity and progression of the disease. Motor learning in dementia is often slower and less efficient, and retention of new skills may be impaired. The presence of comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes can exacerbate cognitive and motor decline by contributing to vascular damage and inflammation in the brain, further complicating motor skill acquisition[5].
In summary, dementia impairs the learning of new motor skills through cognitive decline, executive dysfunction, and motor system degeneration. However, combined cognitive and motor interventions can stimulate neuroplasticity and improve or stabilize motor and cognitive functions to some extent. These interventions hold promise for enhancing quality of life and functional independence in individuals with dementia, although the progressive nature of the disease imposes significant challenges.
Sources:
[1] PubMed – Effects of a coordinated program of psychomotricity and cognitive stimulation on memory, attention, praxis, visuospatial abilities, and motor skills in vascular mild cognitive impairment and vascular dementia.
[2] PMC – Effects of psychomotor exercise on cognitive processes and motor activities in mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
[3] ClinicalTrials.gov – Study on cognitive-motor training in mild cognitive impairment.
[4] Alzheimer’s Research Association – Can exercise video games slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s?
[5] Journal of Medical Internet Research – Effect of dual-task training on cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.
[6] JAMA Network Open – Physical activity over the adult life course and risk of dementia.
