Effect of Chinese reading aloud training on cognitive function in patients with vascular cognitive impairment no dementia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of Chinese reading aloud training (c-RAT) on cognitive function and activities of daily living in patients with vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND). Methods From January 2018 to January 2019, totally 80 patients with VCIND in the General Hospital of Xingtai Mining Group were enrolled.Subjects were randomized grouped into c-RAT group (n=43) and control group (n=37). The c-RAT group was asked to read aloud the Chinese paper for 5 days a week for 12 weeks.At the time of enrollment and 12 weeks after the intervention, the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), trail making test (TMT), auditory verb learn test (AVLT), digit symbol substitution test (DSST) and modified Barthel index (MBI) were filled out. Results Compared with control group, the difference of D-value in c-RAT group was statistically significant in MoCA total scores(4.00(2.00), 1.50(0.50), Z=3.012, P=0.003), scores of MoCA-Visual space execution (2.00(1.00), 0.00(2.00), Z=2.787, P=0.008), MoCA-attention (1.00(1.00), 0.00(0.50), Z=2.369, P=0.022), MoCA-language (1.00(1.00), 0.00(0.75), Z=3.049, P=0.000)and MoCA-delayed recall(2.00(2.00), 0.00(1.00), Z=2.043, P=0.014), TMT-A scores (-8.00(23.00), 10.50(30.25), Z=2.120, P=0.039), AVLT scores (1earning)(3.00(2.00), 0.50(0.75), Z=2.266, P=0.039) , AVLT scores (recall)(2.00(1.00), 0.00(1.00), Z=2.974, P=0.003)、AVLT scores (recognition) (2.00(0.00), 0.50(1.50), Z=3.054, P=0.000)and DSST scores ((4.96±0.71), (2.39±0.78), t=2.572, P=0.014), while there were no significant differences in the rest parts of MoCA, TMT-B and MBI(P>0.05). The increased scores in DSST were positively correlated (r=0.205, P=0.006) with the number of reading aloud tasks finished. Conclusion C-RAT can improve general cognition, especially in information processing speed, executive function, attention and auditory memory. Key words: Learning therapy; Mild cognitive impairment; Vascular dementia; Information processing speed