Abstract
BackgroundThrough the process of normal aging, cognitive decline would cause a lower level of functioning in real life. This flow might interfere with health-related quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of computer-based cognitive intervention on increasing QoL of elderly people.MethodsA total number of 52 community-dwelling older adults participated in this study. This community scored ≥ 21 in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a clock drawing test score ≥ 4 from health centers in Tehran, Iran. This study is a parallel group stratified randomized clinical trial. The intervention group received a 45-min cognitive training session twice a week for 10 sessions, using Attentive Rehabilitation of Attention and Memory (ARAM) software focusing on selective attention and working memory. QoL was evaluated as a primary outcome. The control group participated in educational workshops.ResultsFrom fifty-two persons, only one participant was excluded from the study in the intervention group during follow-up. Results revealed by increasing cognitive function, improvement occurred in QoL (F = 13.417, p value < 0.001, partial eta-squared = 0.324) as a primary outcome in the intervention group. Among eight domains of QoL, there was significant increasing in domain of role limitations due to emotional problems (F = 4.007, p value = 0.021, partial eta-squared = 0.059), social functioning (F = 2.423, p value = 0.044, partial eta-squared = 0.004), and role limitations due to physical health (F = 10.749, p value < 0.001, partial eta-squared = 0.026).ConclusionsBased on the results, ARAM showed transition and long-term effects on QoL in elderly people by improving cognitive functions such as selective attention and working memory.Trial registrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT2016122731602N1. Registered on June 21, 2017
Highlights
Through the process of normal aging, cognitive decline would cause a lower level of functioning in real life
Working memory plays the role of visual control in selective attention [12], and selective attention itself is the main process of optimal performance in working memory [13, 14]
Considering age-related changes occurring in frontal lobes, the importance of transferring learned cognitive skills to outcomes such as QoL, and the lack of study about the relationship between cognitive function and quality of life, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive training in improving working memory and selective attention and subsequently improving QoL in older adults with normal cognitive function
Summary
Through the process of normal aging, cognitive decline would cause a lower level of functioning in real life. This flow might interfere with health-related quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of computer-based cognitive intervention on increasing QoL of elderly people. The aging population increase and the need to preserve QoL emphasize the necessity of rapid, effective, and affordable solutions to delay age-related cognitive decline [8]. Recent studies show that the relationship between working memory and selective attention is mutual and multidimensional [11] and probably controlled by common neural mechanisms. Working memory plays the role of visual control in selective attention [12], and selective attention itself is the main process of optimal performance in working memory [13, 14]
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