Healthy, Mild Cognitive Impairment, So Stated, Mild Dementia
Conditions
Brief summary
The study involved Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and more specifically computer exercises blended with game activities. It was hypothesized that ICT facilitated, game blended cognitive and/or physical exercise improves global cognition when compared to control groups; moreover, these improvements may be manifested by brain activity changes; we explored the impact of potential moderators on combined exercise-induced cognitive benefits, as well as, individual/separate training schemes.
Detailed description
The study was conducted in the Thessaloniki (Greece), in various centers. It was part of the Long Lasting Memories (LLM) project (www.longlastingmemories.eu), which was funded by the European Commission (Information and Communication Technologies Policy Support Program (ICT-PSP) for a three year period (2009-2012). It used a pre-post-test design with the between-participant factor group \[intervention(s) vs. passive and/or active control\]. Post-test was conducted within 2 weeks after completion of the exercise period. Interventions were carried out in Thessaloniki (Greece) within day care centers, hospitals, senior care centers, a memory outpatient center, local parishes, and at participants' homes. Centers had to provide 8 exercise weeks, with a frequency of at least 2 physical and 3 cognitive exercise sessions per week, resulting in at least 16 physical and 24 cognitive exercise sessions in total. A similar trial was registered with Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02267499
Interventions
OTHERLLM
LLM training Participants use the FitForAll exergaming computer platform as the physical training component (PTC); Participants use the language adapted Version of the BrainFitness Program as the cognitive training component (CTC)
OTHERFFA
PTC training Participants use the FitForAll exergaming computer platform as the physical training component (PTC)
OTHERBrain Fitness
CTC training Participants use the language adapted Version of the BrainFitness Program as the cognitive training component (CTC)
OTHERVideoGrade
Active cognitive training by use of the VideoGrade software by AUTH.
Sponsors
Greek Alzheimer's Association and Related Disorders
Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
55 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* no severe cognitive impairment \[MMSE ≥ 18\] * fluent language skills * agreement of a medical doctor * time commitment to the test and exercise protocol.
Exclusion criteria
* concurrent participation in another study * severe physical or psychological disorders which precluded participation in the intervention (i.e., inability to follow instructions) * unrecovered neurological disorders such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, unstable medication within the past three months * severe and uncorrectable vision problems, or hearing aid for less than three months.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| overall cognition | 2 Monhths | Greek versions of the California Verbal Learning Test \[CVLT\], the Digit Span Test and the Trail Making Test \[TMT\] were used to assess cognitive outcomes |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Episodic memory | 2 months / 6+2 months / 12+2 months | calculated by averaging z-standardized sub-scores of the three cognitive tests (primary outcome) |
| working memory | 2 months / 6+2 months / 12+2 months | calculated by averaging z-standardized sub-scores of the three cognitive tests (primary outcome) |
| executive function | 2 months / 6+2 months / 12+2 months | calculated by averaging z-standardized sub-scores of the three cognitive tests (primary outcome) |
| physical fitness | 2 months / 6+2 months / 12+2 months | Physical capacity was measured by means of the Senior Fitness Test |
| Instrumental Activities of daily living | 2 months / 6+2 months / 12+2 months | IADL |
| Depressive symptoms | 2 months / 6+2 months / 12+2 months | GDS |
| Brain function | 2 months | changes in abnormal brain waves that correlate with mild cognitive decline and dementia as measured by EEG and/or ERPs; changes in resting state networks; localisation of brain region activations/de-activations |
| Quality of Life | 2 months / 6+2 months / 12+2 months | WHOQoL |
Outcome results
None listed