Abstract
Background: Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is the most common dementia, accounting for more than 60% of all dementia cases. For adults aged >65 years, the incidence rate doubles for every 5 years of increased age; therefore, preserving cognitive function is a pressing issue. Thus, our team screens for AD in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, at 11 public halls in Kashihara City, Japan, and offers follow-up to those with cognitive difficulties. The purpose of this research was to measure the effects of two interventions, a dual-task (requiring the participant to perform two tasks at the same time) and an n-back task (test of memory retention, requiring the participant to identify the item occupying the nth-back position in a sequence of items). A comparison group performed a single learning task in place of the dual-task. Moreover, the majority of non-drug therapies for the maintenance of cognitive function help promote a positive mood, activating reward systems in the brain and motivating the individual to continue the task. Therefore, the correlation between cognitive function, and positive and negative mood was investigated. Methods: Dual and n- back task (n = 304) and single-task (n = 78) groups were compared in a 6-month intervention. Salivary α-amylase concentration was measured, which reflects positive and negative mood, and correlations with cognitive function were analyzed. Results: Cognitive function improved in both the dual-task and the single-task groups, and many cognitive domains had improved in the dual-task group. A correlation between salivary α-amylase and cognitive function was found, indicating that a greater positive mood was associated with greater cognitive function. Conclusion: The results of this research show that functional decline can be improved by a cognitive intervention. Positive mood and cognitive function were correlated, suggesting that encouraging comfort in the participant can increase the effectiveness of the intervention.
Highlights
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare estimates that 15% of the Japanese population aged >65 years have dementia, i.e., a total of approximately 4.62 million individuals[1]
Drawing on the above-mentioned previous studies, in this study we considered that an intervention combining healthy-eating habit guidance, aerobic exercise, an n-back task and a dual-task might be effective
An intervention, combining exercise, an n-back task, and a dualtask, improved performance in a greater number of areas of cognitive function, compared with a similar intervention in which a single learning task was substituted for the dual-task
Summary
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare estimates that 15% of the Japanese population aged >65 years have dementia, i.e., a total of approximately 4.62 million individuals (estimated in 2012)[1]. For adults aged >65 years, the incidence rate doubles for every 5 years of increased age; preserving cognitive function is a pressing issue. Methods: Dual and n- back task (n = 304) and single-task (n = 78) groups were compared in a 6-month intervention. Salivary α-amylase concentration was measured, which reflects positive and negative mood, and correlations with cognitive function were analyzed. Conclusion: The results of this research show that functional decline can be improved by a cognitive intervention. Positive mood and cognitive function were correlated, suggesting that encouraging comfort in the participant can increase the effectiveness of the intervention. Second sentence: “Positive mood and cognitive function were correlated, suggesting that encouraging comfort in the participant can increase the effectiveness of the intervention.”. Conclusions: First sentence...perhaps functional decline can be reduced with cognitive intervention? Second sentence: “Positive mood and cognitive function were correlated, suggesting that encouraging comfort in the participant can increase the effectiveness of the intervention.” I do not understand how this comfort in the participant can increase the effectiveness of the intervention.” I do not understand how this conclusion stems from the correlation between salivary α-amylase and cognitive function
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