Effect of the Interactive Multitouch Game-based Cognitive Remediation on Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Elderly

Research Objectives

To investigate effect of the interactive multitouch game-based cognitive remediation (ICR) on cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly.

Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Clinical experimental study.

Participants

Thirty-two healthy adults (19 females; mean aged 74.47±4.30 years) who were aged between 65 to 84 years without history of neurological diseases.

Interventions

All participants were randomized into two groups; intervention and control. The intervention group received ICR sessions using Happy Table® (Spring Soft Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea), while the control group received traditional paper-and-pencil-based cognitive remediation (TCR). Both groups had ten 40-minute intervention sessions for four weeks.

Main Outcome Measures

Executive function was assessed by the Color-word Stroop Test (CWST), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), GO no GO and Trail Making Test (TMT). Memory was assessed by the Verbal Learning Test (VLT) and Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT). The assessments were done before and after the intervention.

Results

Both cognitive remediation methods showed significant improvements in within-group analysis. For executive functions, the ICR showed significant improvements in CSWT incongruent, COWAT phonemic (P < 0.05). The TCR group showed improvements in GO no GO and TMT (P < 0.05). For memory function, both groups showed significant improvements in VLT and RCFT (P < 0.05). In between group comparisons, the ICR group showed better improvements in VLT (delayed and recognition) and RCFT (recognition) than TCR group (P < 0.05, pre-intervention value as a covariate).

Conclusions

Both ICR and TCR were effective in enhancing executive and memory functions. However, the ICR showed better outcome especially for the long-term memory function. The ICR can be used for the purpose of improving memory and executive functions for community-dwelling elderly.

Author(s) Disclosures

1. Department of Medical Device Management & Research, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, SAIHST, Seoul, Republic of Korea 2. Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea 3. Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Department of Digital Health, Sungkyunkwan University, SAIHST, Seoul, Republic of Korea