Computerised Cognitive Training for Older Persons With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study Using a Randomised Controlled Trial Design

Abstract

T he results of a pilot randomised controlled trial of computerised cognitive training in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are reported. Participants (N = 25) were randomised into either the treatment or waitlist training groups. Sixteen participants completed the 30-session computerised cognitive training program using exercises that target a range of cognitive functions including attention, processing speed, visual memory and executive functions. It was hypothesised that participants would improve with practice on the trained tasks, that the benefits of training would generalise to nontrained neuropsychological measures, and that training would result in improved perceptions of memory and memory functioning when compared with waitlist controls. Results indicated that participants were able to improve their performance across a range of tasks with training. There was some evidence of generalisation of training to a measure of visual sustained attention. There were no significant effects of training on selfreported everyday memory functioning or mood. The results are discussed along with suggestions for future research.

Computerized and Virtual Reality Cognitive Training for Individuals at High Risk of Cognitive Decline: Systematic Review of the Literature

“…The majority of participants (n=559 from 13 studies) were diagnosed with MCI but 38.5% of the total number of studies included were of participants with dementia (n=159 from 5 studies), while two studies combined individuals living with MCI and dementia (52, 58). Petersen's criteria (59) was applied in six studies (43,46,48,58,60,61); a standardized clinical criteria consistent with recommendation of an international consensus committee (62) was applied in two studies (44,45); the Clinical Dementia Scale (63) was applied in one study (57); and a cut off of 1.5 standard deviations below age norms on a neurocognitive battery (47) was applied in one study (57). Due to inconsistencies in Alzheimer's Disease and dementia terminology in the literature and among clinicians, we refer below to dementia as the generic term.…”

“…pharmacological treatment among the participants was reported by two studies (43,60) and a steady dose (> 2 months) of medication was an inclusion criteria for six studies (44,45,52,56,61,65). …”

“…Three studies included a no contact/waitlist control (47,60,61) and two studies cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) only control (56,60). Nine studies included an active control (39, 42, 44-46, 48, 55, 57, 65), which involved participants participating in activities for an equivalent time as the intervention group.…”

Addressing Cognitive Challenges in Schizophrenia: A Public Health Perspective

“…There is evidence that internet-based targeted cognitive training targeting neurocognition and social cognition is feasible and useful in improving cognitive performance of individuals at clinically high risk to develop psychosis [16]. There is preliminary evidence that such training is useful in improving cognitive abilities of elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment [17]. Research exploring such interventions are lacking in the field of cognitive rehabilitation of schizophrenia.…”

A comparative clinical study of the effectiveness of computer cognitive training in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairments without dementia

“…Although the effectiveness of computer-based cognitive rehabilitation has still not been thoroughly studied, some brain game programs have shown effectiveness, according to separate studies in different groups of healthy participants and patients (Sternberg et al, 2013;Hardy, Drescher, Sarkar, Kellett, & Scanlon, 2011;Finn & McDonald, 2011;Karen et al, 2013). Up until now, the generalization of these improvements from the games to activities of the patient's daily life has not been proven (Van de Ven, Murre, Veltman, & Schmand, 2016;Zucchella, Capone et al, 2014).…”