Effectiveness of a Serious Game for Cognitive Training in Chronic Stroke Survivors with Mild-to-Moderate Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Previous cognitive training games for stroke survivors required the close supervision of therapists. We aim to demonstrate the preliminary therapeutic effectiveness of Neuro-World, serious mobile games for cognitive training, in chronic stroke survivors with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment without therapist supervision. For that, we conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial at a single long-term care rehabilitation center with 50 stroke survivors in the chronic stage with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment. Participants were randomized to standard medical care (n = 25) or standard medical care plus administration of Neuro-World (n = 25) over 12 weeks. A two-way mixed model ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc tests identified significant differences in outcomes between the experimental and the control groups at post-intervention but not at baseline. Within the experimental group, there were statistically significant improvements in all the outcomes except for the language category of the Mini-Mental State Examination and Digit Forward Span. The improvements were clinically significant for the total Mini-Mental State Examination, Digit Forward Span, and Digit Backward Span. Within the control group, there were no improvements in any of the outcomes. The practice of Neuro-World led to significant improvements in cognitive function and marginal mitigation of depressive symptoms in chronic stroke survivors with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment.

Posterior Fossa Tumor Rehabilitation: An Up-to-Date Overview

“…Computer-based interventions also make possible rehabilitation at the patient’s home, with indisputable logistical and psycho-emotional advantages. The use of technologies such as brain computer interfaces, robotics, virtual reality, and augmented reality tools currently adopted in the treatment of cognitive disorders in adult patients and children [ 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ] could also lead to indiscuss advantages in terms of motivation in posterior fossa tumor post-surgery rehabilitation.…”

Personalized Serious Games for Improving Attention Skills among Palestinian Adolescents

“…The study utilized a hybrid model between ANOVA and Tukey's posthoc tests and found that all outcomes presented significant advancements except for language. Therefore, Neuro-World showed to enhance the cognitive function and decrease depression symptoms among the subjects in the intervention group [5].…”

“…Thus, serious games show to improve memory and attention skills among the elderly. Similarly, in [5], the authors aimed to assess the value of "Neuro-World," a serious game, in cognitive training for stroke survivors who, as a result, present mild or moderate cognitive disabilities. The study utilized a hybrid model between ANOVA and Tukey's posthoc tests and found that all outcomes presented significant advancements except for language.…”

“…SGs differ from computer games in purpose, while the computer or digital games aim to entertain, serious games seek to achieve a certain educational, medical, or social outcome for the players. SGs have been used in a variety of fields, such as to aid children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) [3], training the eyes of children with oculomotor dysfunction (OMD) [4], and cognitive training for chronic stroke survivors [5].…”

The Virtual Challenge: Virtual Reality Tools for Intervention in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

“…With the term Serious Games we are referring to games whose peculiarity is not mere entertainment, but the empowerment of cognitive and motor function [ 30 ]. Video games training for rehabilitative purpose has been widely validated both in motor rehabilitation [ 31 ] and in cognitive empowerment and rehabilitation in several disorders [ 32 , 33 , 34 ] ensuring a similar efficacy compared to conventional treatments.…”