OBJECTIVES
To investigate the efficacy of a novel brain plasticity–based computerized cognitive training program in older adults and to evaluate the effect on untrained measures of memory and attention and participant-reported outcomes.
DESIGN
Multisite randomized controlled double-blind trial with two treatment groups.
SETTING
Communities in northern and southern California and Minnesota.
PARTICIPANTS
Community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older (N = 487) without a diagnosis of clinically significant cognitive impairment.
INTERVENTION
Participants were randomized to receive a broadly-available brain plasticity–based computerized cognitive training program (intervention) or a novelty- and intensity-matched general cognitive stimulation program modeling treatment as usual (active control). Duration of training was 1 hour per day, 5 days per week, for 8 weeks, for a total of 40 hours.
MEASUREMENTS
The primary outcome was a composite score calculated from six subtests of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status that use the auditory modality (RBANS Auditory Memory/Attention). Secondary measures were derived from performance on the experimental program, standardized neuropsychological assessments of memory and attention, and participant-reported outcomes.
RESULTS
RBANS Auditory Memory/Attention improvement was significantly greater (P = .02) in the experimental group (3.9 points, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.7–5.1) than in the control group (1.8 points, 95% CI = 0.6–3.0). Multiple secondary measures of memory and attention showed significantly greater improvements in the experimental group (word list total score, word list delayed recall, digits backwards, letter–number sequencing; P < .05), as did the participant-reported outcome measure (P = .001). No advantage for the experimental group was seen in narrative memory.
CONCLUSION
The experimental program improved generalized measures of memory and attention more than an active control program.
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