Observations on mentally impaired elderly patients treated with thinkable, a computerized cognitive remediation

Efficacy of a computerized cognitive training application for older adults with and without memory impairments

BACKGROUND/AIMS

It has been shown that cognitive training might help to protect against age-related cognitive decline. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a computerized cognitive training application and its near transfer effects on the cognitive status of older adults.

METHODS

Performance on the 7-Minute Screen at baseline and at the end of the program was analyzed by using a pre-post design. Adults aged 55 and older (n = 101; mean age ± standard deviation: 68.97 ± 5.81 years) with and without memory impairments were trained.

RESULTS

Significant improvements after the training program were found in memory, visuo-spatial and verbal fluency abilities, regardless of age, gender or education. Moreover, participants without significant memory impairments and those with Age-Associated Memory Impairment gained from the program more than subjects with mild cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSION

Computerized cognitive training programs, such as Telecognitio®, may be used as a practical and valuable tool in clinic to improve cognitive status.

Feasibility and acceptance of a nonpharmacological cognitive remediation intervention for patients with Parkinson disease

Many patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) experience deficits in executive skills (ES; eg, attentional control, self-monitoring), which are associated with a range of impairing symptoms such as visual hallucinations, decreased motor control, and increased apathy. Pharmacological methods for improving ES in PD have shown to be somewhat unreliable. The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and patient acceptance of a nonpharmacological cognitive remediation program that aimed to improve sustained, selective, alternating, and divided attentional abilities in a sample of 16 nondemented PD patients. Based on ratings of 4 feasibility dimensions (fatigue, effort, progress, enjoyment), patients with PD demonstrated a high degree of acceptance and successfully engaged in the program. As predicted, ratings of progress differed significantly across tasks according to difficulty level and were positively related to posttraining improvement in ES. Fatigue ratings showed negative associations with other indices across task types, suggesting that monitoring fatigue during cognitive remediation is essential. Patients' ratings of enjoyment did not correspond to task difficulty, indicating that tasks could be simultaneously challenging and rewarding. Males reported exerting greater effort during the training than females. It was concluded that the intervention is appropriate for testing in a randomized controlled trial.

Evaluation of cognitive technologies in geriatric rehabilitation: a case study pilot project

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate low-cost technology for cognitive rehabilitation in older individuals with dementia and document changes stemming from a clinical case study using these tools. An activity board, a calendar, a routine organizer and a software program were used and evaluated by specialists (n = 7). A pre-post-case study with an elderly male with dementia was undertaken for four months. All rehabilitation resources were classified as appropriate by the specialists. Post-intervention scores demonstrated improvement in cognitive functioning and daily activities at home. There is a need for further research to assess the therapeutic effects in patients with dementia applying equipment and software to improve cognitive function.