The Effect of Computer-Based Cognitive Training Program On Cognition

Hee-Jin Kim; Young Sun Yang; Kyoung-Hee Choi; Tae-You Kim

doi:10.12779/dnd.2013.12.4.87

Journal List > Dement Neurocogn Disord > v.12(4) > 1120824

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Kim, Yang, Choi, and Kim: The Effect of Computer-Based Cognitive Training Program On Cognition

Original Article

Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders 2013; 12(4): 87-93.

Published online: 31 December 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12779/dnd.2013.12.4.87

The Effect of Computer-Based Cognitive Training Program On Cognition

Hee-Jin Kim, M.D.^*,^#, Young Sun Yang, M.D.^†,^#, Kyoung-Hee Choi, RN^*, Tae-You Kim, M.D.^‡

^*Department of Neurology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

^†Department of Neurology, Veterans Hospital, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

^‡Department of Neurology, Willis Memorial Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Hee-Jin Kim, M.D. Department of Neurology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 22-2 Majo-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-792, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2290-8374, Fax: +82-2-2296-8370, hyumcbrain@hanyang.ac.kr

Equal contributor:

#These authors equally contributed to this study.

Received 14 November 2013 Revised 11 December 2013 Accepted 11 December 2013

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background

Effective non-pharmacological cognitive program to prevent Alzheimer's dementia or slow its progression are an urgent international priority. The effect of computer-based cognitive training program has not been demonstrated yet in dementia. The purpose of this study is to know whether the computer-based cognitive training improved cognitive abilities in patients with mild cognitive disorder and early stage of dementia.

Methods

Totally 20 participants (14 with MCI and 6 with mild Alzhiemer dementia) participated in this study. To test the effectiveness of computer-based cognitive training programs to cognition, all patient were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n=10) or a control group (n=10) An intervention group received regularly computer-based cognitive training totally 20 times for 10 weeks. Neuropsychological examinations were conducted before and after this period.

Results

After 10 weeks, intervention group showed a significant change in language of K-MMSE compared with baseline cognitive examinations. Also, there was improvement in attention (backward digit span), calculation, memory, and frontal function for the intervention group as compared with controls. Patients with mild cognitive disorder showed marked improvements in language and visuospatial capacity, while patients with dementia showed no or slight improvement in these fields.

Conclusions

Computer-based cognitive training program might have beneficial effect on general cognitive function in both mild cognitive disorder and dementia. Especially, conspicuous effectiveness showed in patients with mild cognitive disorder.

Keywords: Computer-based cognitive training, Cognition, Mild cognitive disorder, Alzheimer's disease

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Study design for computer-based cognitive training program.

MCI, Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Fig. 2

Neuropsychological results after using computer-based cognitive training program in mild cognitive disorder group. There were marked improvement in attention, visuo-spatial and verbal memory function after computer-based cognitive program.

COWAT, Controlled Oral Word Association Test; RCFT, Rey Complex Figure test; SVLT, Seoul Verbal Learning Test.

Table 1

Participants demographics

^*Two-sample t-test; ^†Wilcoxon's rank sum test; ^‡Fisher's exact test.

K-MMSE, the Korean-Mini Mental State Examination; CDR, clinical dementia rating.

Table 2

Results of Neuropsychological test

^*Wilcoxon's rank sum test; ^†Wilcoxon signed rank test; ^‡Fisher's exact test; ^§Two-sample t-test.

SVLT, Seoul Verbal Learning Test; RCFT, Rey Complex Figure test.

Table 3

SVLT result of patient with mild cognitive disorder

^*Wilcoxon's rank sum test; ^†Wilcoxon signed rank test; ^‡Fisher's exact test; ^§Two-sample t-test.

SVLT, Seoul Verbal Learning Test.

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