Effectiveness Of Computer-Based Cognitive Training in Age-Related Cognitive Decline

University of Jazan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Age-related Cognitive Decline

Treatments: Other: Aerobic Exercise and Computerized Cognitive Training; Other: Conventional Exercises and Brain health lectures

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06226103

REC-45/06/919

Details and patient eligibility

About

Background: Ageing is frequently accompanied by physiological changes that might result in a deterioration in physical and cognitive abilities, which frequently leads to institutionalization or the loss of autonomy. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate state between normal cognitive aging and early dementia, the optimal period to intervene with preventive strategies and early treatments. Thus, the current study intends to investigate the effects of aerobic and computer-based cognitive training on age-related cognitive decline.

Methods: This is a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment (n = 60) will be randomized to 2 arms and treated for 12 weeks: arm 1 (aerobic exercise and computerized cognitive training) and arm 2 (Placebo; will not receive any intervention). Outcome measure used were Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) test, Barthel Index (BI) and short form survey-12 (SF-12).

Statistical Analysis: To compare the baseline characteristics and outcome variables between the two groups, independent t-tests was employed. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to determine the interaction effect of time (baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up) and group (intervention vs. control) on the outcome measures.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60 to 85 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Who fulfilled MCI criteria [10]: (1) subjective cognitive concerns; (2) objective cognitive impairment in memory, executive function, attention, and/or language; (3) preserved activities of daily living; and (4) absence of dementia
• Literate
• Had adequate visual, auditory, and fine motor skills.

Exclusion criteria

• Major depression (scored > 9 in the Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS-15) [11]
• Schizophrenia
• Substance abuse
• parkinsonism
• conditions affecting gait (eg, severe osteoarthritis, previous stroke),
• participated in any cognitive training program during last 6 months > 2 h/week
• ACSM contraindications to exercise or other factors that make exercise impossible or unsafe
• cognitive enhancers, or anticholinergics

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Interventional Group (Aerobic Exercise and Computerized Cognitive Training)

Experimental group

Description:

Aerobic Exercise (AE) included walk briskly, increasing intensity and duration progressively. The first week they had to walk 30 min per day, 3 days per week, up to 9-10 on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (BRPES; Borg, 1982) perceived as light intensity; during the second week, the duration was increased to 45 min and the intensity 9-10 and frequency (3 days per week) were maintained; the following 10 weeks they maintained the duration (45 min) and frequency (3 days per week) and increased the intensity up to 12-14 on BRPES perceived as moderate-high effort. Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) included a multidomain computer-based cognitive training using the brainHQ software in sessions of 45 min, 3 days per week for 12 weeks. Cognitive tasks targeted attention, recognition, colour and shape, identification, calculation, visual perception, visual spatial processing, memory, and executive function).

Treatment:

Other: Aerobic Exercise and Computerized Cognitive Training

Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants were exposed to balancing, coordination, stretching, and core exercises. Additionally, they attended brain health lectures to provide a comparative non-interactive cognitive engagement. Both the exercises and lectures were scheduled similar to the intervention group over 12 weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Conventional Exercises and Brain health lectures