Cognitive decline has become a significant research focus as the global population ages. Although previous studies have demonstrated that physical activities such as balance training, aerobic exercise, and fitness exercises can help maintain cognitive function, the impact of hand motor training remains less explored. As "aging in place" is an important policy worldwide, preserving cognitive function is essential for improving quality of life and reducing the burden on caregivers. Hand function is crucial for independent living, especially for individuals with limited mobility. From a home-based healthcare perspective, aerobic and fitness exercises may not be practical for people with limited mobility. If hand motor exercises could slow or prevent cognitive decline, they could be a viable and valuable solution. This scoping review aimed to investigate the effects of hand motor training on cognitive function in healthy older adults. The search was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases using key terms that included finger, fine motor, dexterity, cognition, elderly, exercise, and training. Although research findings are inconsistent, some studies suggest that more challenging finger exercises benefit cognitive function. For example, learning to play the piano, digital trail-making peg tests, and interactive games. Interventions that incorporated cognitive demands demonstrated more pronounced effects. These types of activities not only improve manual dexterity but also enhance cognitive processes. In the future, designing appropriate hand motor training programs or developing lightweight, user-friendly home-based training systems may provide practical solutions for older adults to maintain cognitive function and support healthy aging at home.

Authors:
Ying-Ming Liu, The Presbyterian Church of Taiwan, Taiwan
Ming-Fong Chang, The Presbyterian Church of Taiwan, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Liu is a family medicine physician at the Division of Family Medicine, Sin Lau Medical Foundation, the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan, Tainan City, Taiwan. Dr. Liu is dedicated to home-based health promotion, exercise rehabilitation, sports medici

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