Effects of Cognitive Training in Mild Cognitive Impairmentmeasured by Resting State Functional Imaging.

Seungho Kim,Yongmin Chang,Jae-Chang Jung,Eunhee Park,Hyunsil Cha,Tae-Du Jung

doi:10.3390/bs10110175

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as an intermediate state of cognitive alteration between normal aging and dementia. In this study, we performed a functional network connectivity analysis using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the association between changes in functional connectivity in the brain and the improvement in cognitive abilities after cognitive training. A computerized cognitive training program was used to improve the abilities of fifteen participants with MCI. The cognitive training program (Comcog), which consists of three weekly sessions totaling 90 min, was conducted with all participants over six weeks. The cognitive abilities before (pre-Comcog) and after (post-Comcog) the cognitive training process were measured using a neurocognitive function test. After the Comcog, the participants enhanced their visual and verbal memories, attention, and visuo-motor coordination. The functional connectivity between cingulo-opercular (CON) and default mode (DMN) showed significant improvements after Comcog training. Therefore, our study suggests that cognitive training may improve the cognitive abilities of participants. This improvement was associated with an increase in the functional connectivity between DMN and CON. The increase in functional connectivity after cognitive training was specifically associated with overall cognitive functions, including executive, memory, decision-making, and motivational functions.

Highlights

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as an intermediate state of cognitive alteration between normal aging and dementia [1,2]
We focused on the changes in functional connectivity in DMN, CON, and fronto-parietal network (FPN) brain networks before and after computerized cognitive training (CCT)
The current study shows that an increase in brain functional connectivity after cognitive training may improve the cognitive abilities of MCI patients

Summary

Introduction

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as an intermediate state of cognitive alteration between normal aging and dementia [1,2]. Cognitive impairment increases the risk of various diseases that are linked with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as other psychiatric symptoms, by accelerating cognitive dysfunction [3] and leading to a decline in the patients’ quality of life [4,5]. Fifteen to twenty percent of people over 65 years of age have MCI and, among these, fifteen percent develop dementia [6]. Cognitive training has been one of the solutions to reduce the risk of. Sci. 2020, 10, 175 dementia or MCI because it improves patients’ cognitive abilities or delays the onset of symptoms [7,8]

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Conclusion