Promoting Safe Walking Among Older Adults (PASSWORD)

The PASSWORD study investigated whether physical and cognitive training could promote walking ability and functioning among older people more effectively than physical training alone. Between 2017 and 2020, the study involved 314 community-dwelling men and women aged 70–85 who did not meet the physical activity recommendations for older adults before the inteevention start.

In this randomized controlled trial, all participants took part in a year-long, multicomponent physical training programme including strength, endurance, balance and flexibility training. Half of the participants also received computer-based cognitive training. The study assessed, among other outcomes, walking ability, falls, executive function, physical functioning and physical activity.

The results showed that the training improved participants’ physical and cognitive functioning. Combined physical and cognitive training produced greater improvements in some aspects of executive function than physical training alone, but provided no additional benefits for walking ability, fall prevention or physical activity.

A new follow-up data collection will be conducted in 2025–2026, and register-based follow-up will continue until 2029.

Funding
Research Council of Finland (2016–2020)
Juho Vainion Foundation (2025–2027)

Research group
Principal Investigators
Sarianna Sipilä, Professor, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä (2016–2025)
Elina Sillanpää, Associate Professor, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä (2026–)

Researcher responsible for the follow-up data collection
Tiina Savikangas, Postdoctoral Researcher, Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä; Research Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu ja Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Oulu Deaconess Institiute sr.

Project website (in Finnish)