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

Dement Neurocogn Disord. 2013 Dec;12(4):87-93. Korean.
Published online Dec 31, 2013.  https://doi.org/10.12779/dnd.2013.12.4.87
© 2013 Korean Dementia Association
The Effect of Computer-Based Cognitive Training Program On Cognition
Hee-Jin Kim, M.D.,*,# Young Sun Yang, M.D.,†,# Kyoung-Hee Choi, RN,* and 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, Email: hyumcbrain@hanyang.ac.kr

#These authors equally contributed to this study.

Received Nov 14, 2013; Revised Dec 11, 2013; Accepted Dec 11, 2013.

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


 Fig. 1
Study design for computer-based cognitive training program.

MCI, Mild Cognitive Impairment.
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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.
Click for larger image

Tables


 Table 1
Participants demographics
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Table 2
Results of Neuropsychological test
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Table 3
SVLT result of patient with mild cognitive disorder
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