Improvement in executive function for older adults through smartphone apps: a randomized clinical trial comparing language learning and brain training

Meltzer, Jed A.; Rose, Mira Kates; Le, Anna Y; Spencer, Kiah A; Goldstein, Leora; Gubanova, Alina; Lai, Abbie C; Yossofzai, Maryam; Armstrong, Sabrina; Bialystok, Ellen

doi:10.1080/13825585.2021.1991262

Cited by 28 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…And while reserve accrual is typically a happenstance beneficial byproduct of lifestyle enrichment activities, some research suggests that targeted intervention can also be a reserve maintainer/provider. Cognitive training-repetitionbased intervention activities that attempt to proactively use scientifically determined environmental enrichment to stretch neuroplasticity-seems to have some effect in boosting cognitive functions in older age (Brum et al, 2009;Belleville et al, 2011;Kane et al, 2017), including foreign language training with seniors (Meltzer et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bilingualism and Aging: Implications for (Delaying) Neurocognitive Decline

Gallo

DeLuca

Prystauka

et al. 2022

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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As a result of advances in healthcare, the worldwide average life expectancy is steadily increasing. However, this positive trend has societal and individual costs, not least because greater life expectancy is linked to higher incidence of age-related diseases, such as dementia. Over the past few decades, research has isolated various protective “healthy lifestyle” factors argued to contribute positively to cognitive aging, e.g., healthy diet, physical exercise and occupational attainment. The present article critically reviews neuroscientific evidence for another such factor, i.e., speaking multiple languages. Moreover, with multiple societal stakeholders in mind, we contextualize and stress the importance of the research program that seeks to uncover and understand potential connections between bilingual language experience and cognitive aging trajectories, inclusive of the socio-economic impact it can have. If on the right track, this is an important line of research because bilingualism has the potential to cross-over socio-economic divides to a degree other healthy lifestyle factors currently do not and likely cannot.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It might also mean that language learning as a cognitive training intervention is simply more engaging than, for instance, playing Sudoku. If bilingualism as an intervention even only equals the protective potential of other cognitive training (Meltzer et al, 2021), it would be worth promoting for its ecological validity value.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bilingualism and Aging: Implications for (Delaying) Neurocognitive Decline

Gallo

DeLuca

Prystauka

et al. 2022

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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“…Structured cognitive training results in improved structural and functional brain connectivity, as well as improvements in executive function and memory [ 82 , 122 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 ].…”

Section: Interventions—stimuli With Known Benefits On Cognitive Headr...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Demand Coupling Drives Neurodegeneration: A Model of Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Dementia

Turknett¹,

Wood

2022

Cells

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The societal burden of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other major forms of dementia continues to grow, and multiple pharmacological agents directed towards modifying the pathological “hallmarks” of AD have yielded disappointing results. Though efforts continue towards broadening and deepening our knowledge and understanding of the mechanistic and neuropathological underpinnings of AD, our previous failures motivate a re-examination of how we conceptualize AD pathology and progression. In addition to not yielding effective treatments, the phenotypically heterogeneous biological processes that have been the primary area of focus to date have not been adequately shown to be necessary or sufficient to explain the risk and progression of AD. On the other hand, a growing body of evidence indicates that lifestyle and environment represent the ultimate level of causation for AD and age-related cognitive decline. Specifically, the decline in cognitive demands over the lifespan plays a central role in driving the structural and functional deteriorations of the brain. In the absence of adequate cognitive stimulus, physiological demand–function coupling leads to downregulation of growth, repair, and homeostatic processes, resulting in deteriorating brain tissue health, function, and capacity. In this setting, the heterogeneity of associated neuropathological tissue hallmarks then occurs as a consequence of an individual’s genetic and environmental background and are best considered downstream markers of the disease process rather than specific targets for direct intervention. In this manuscript we outline the evidence for a demand-driven model of age-related cognitive decline and dementia and why it mandates a holistic approach to dementia treatment and prevention that incorporates the primary upstream role of cognitive demand.

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“…There has been growing interest in enhancing cognitive functions in older adults via cognitive and brain interventions (Meltzer et al, 2021;Nguyen et al, 2019b;Wollesen et al, 2020). It is also evident that pure cognitive training and cognitive training with additional physical activity can be effective for leading stronger long-term effects on several aspects of cognitive functioning in healthy older adults (Gavelin et al, 2021;Rahe et al, 2015;Reijnders et al, 2013).…”

Section: R E S U M E Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual Reality-based Cognitive Intervention for Enhancing Executive Functions in Community-dwelling Older Adults

Makmee

Wongupparaj

2022

Psychosocial Intervention

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With the rapid growth of the older population globally, it is anticipated that age-related cognitive decline in the prodromal phase and more severe pathological decline will increase. Moreover, currently, no effective treatment options for the disease exist. Thus, early and timely prevention actions are promising and prior strategies to preserve cognitive functions by preventing symptomatology from increasing the age-related deterioration of the functions in healthy older adults. This study aims to develop the virtual reality-based cognitive intervention for enhancing executive functions (EFs) and examine the EFs after training with the virtual reality-based cognitive intervention in community-dwelling older adults. Following inclusion/exclusion criteria, 60 community-dwelling older adults aged 60-69 years were involved in the study and randomly divided into passive control and experimental groups. Eight 60 min virtual reality-based cognitive intervention sessions were held twice a week and lasted for 1 month. The EFs (i.e., inhibition, updating, and shifting) of the participants were assessed by using standardized computerized tasks, i.e., Go/NoGo, forward and backward digit span, and Berg's card sorting tasks. Additionally, a repeated-measure ANCOVA and effect sizes were applied to investigate the effects of the developed intervention. The virtual reality-based intervention significantly improved the EFs of older adults in the experimental group. Specifically, the magnitudes of enhancement were observed for inhibitory as indexed by the response time, F(1) = 6.95, p < .05, η p 2 = .11, updating as represented by the memory span, F(1) = 12.09, p < .01, η p

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Improvement in executive function for older adults through smartphone apps: a randomized clinical trial comparing language learning and brain training

Cited by 28 publications

References 67 publications

Bilingualism and Aging: Implications for (Delaying) Neurocognitive Decline

Bilingualism and Aging: Implications for (Delaying) Neurocognitive Decline

Demand Coupling Drives Neurodegeneration: A Model of Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Dementia

Virtual Reality-based Cognitive Intervention for Enhancing Executive Functions in Community-dwelling Older Adults

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