Cognitive Enhancement Program Research Articles

Intervention to Enhance Cognitive Development Underpinning Reading for Japanese Preschool Children

This study aimed to examine the effects of intervention through a cognitive educational program based on previous research and conducted it on a class of nursery preschoolers. To examine the effects of the intervention, two measures of cognitive abilities (Flanker task / PASS Rating Scale) were administered pre- and post-intervention. We analyzed the activity review sheets filled by children after each session. As a result, the size of interference effects on the response time of the Flanker task in post-intervention decreased compared with that in pre-intervention and the scores of the PASS Rating Scale in post-intervention were higher than that in pre-intervention. Additionally, analyses of the activity review sheets indicated that the descriptions of “content of activity” and “strategy” tended to increase as the sessions progressed. Changes in measures of cognitive abilities suggest that the intervention played an important part in enhancing preschoolers’ cognitive abilities. The result of reflection suggests the fact that we actively provided opportunities to interact with instructors and classmates while verbalizing the contents and strategies of activities during sessions. These results suggest the positive impact of class-wide intervention of cognitive enhancement programs among preschoolers.

Application of Cognitive Enhancement Protocol Based on ICT Program to Improve Cognitive Level of Older Adults Residents in Small‐sized City Community: A Pilot Study

AbstractBackgroundA home‐based ICT program to elderly people aged 65 years or older to confirm the effect of the cognitive enhancement program and explore the possibility of remote rehabilitation.MethodThis study from August to October 2022, three subjects were selected and the intervention was conducted for about two months. This intervention was conducted using the Korean version of Mini‐Mental State Examination(MMSE‐K), the Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA‐K), the Computer Cognitive Senior Assessment System(CoSAS), and the two shorter form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale(CESD‐10‐D) to evaluated cognitive improvement before and after the program. The therapist remotely set the difficulty lever of cognitive training suitable fore the level of the subject through weekly feedback, and during the program. Interviews were conducted for additional opinions on the cognitive enhancement program.ResultAfter the intervention, all subjects showed improved scores in most items of the Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment conducted before and after the intervention. In addition, among the items of CoTras, upper cognition, language ability, attention, visual perception, and memory were improved. In addition, subjective satisfaction with the cognitive improvement program was high.ConclusionCognitive rehabilitation training using a home‐based ICT program not only prevented dementia but also made it habitual. Through this study, it was confirmed that remote rehabilitation for the elderly could be possible.

2 Pilot Study of a Cognitive Enhancement Intervention for Substance Abuse Recovery

Objective:This was a pilot study testing a cognitive enhancement program to improve rate of cognitive recovery in early substance abuse treatment. It is hypothesized that if patients were able to accelerate the rate of cognitive improvement, they may be able to better engage in substance abuse treatment and potentially have better long-term outcomes.Participants and Methods:Participants were 47 adults newly admitted to a residential substance abuse treatment facility (74.5% male, 76.6% white, mean age=34.5 years, education=12+ years). All were post-detox. All were being treated for opioid abuse, with the majority in treatment for polysubstance abuse. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (BrainHQ research cognitive training program) or active control group (inert computer games) and completed 34 training sessions per week for a minimum of 3 weeks. NIH Toolbox cognition battery was administered at baseline and endpoint.Results:Regardless of study group, most participants had a significant improvement in cognitive performance across most subtests and composite scores of the NIH Toolbox cognition battery. The RAVLT and Oral Symbol Digit subtests had the greatest change (p<.001) for both groups, as well as a significant improvement (p=.002) in Cognitive Function Composite Score for both groups. The only difference between the control and intervention group was on the Pattern Comparison subtest, with the intervention group scoring significantly higher at endpoint (p=.004).Conclusions:Although substance abuse is known to cause injury to the brain that may not be fully repaired by sobriety, cognitive recovery was significant in this group of patients during early inpatient treatment for opioid abuse. Although it has yielded significant effect in other patient populations, the BrainHQ program did not show a significant enhancement in cognitive recovery, compared to the active control group, in this pilot study of patients in treatment for opioid abuse. This study was limited by a small sample size and potential future variations should be considered, such as changes to intervention intensity and specific intervention exercises.

Influence of cognitive function and social support on health-related quality of life of elderly men in partial medically underserved rural areas: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors influencing the health-related quality of life of elderly men in partial medically underserved rural areas. Methods: The subjects included 182 elderly men aged 65 or older living in the jurisdictions of the Health Care Centers in G, I, and J Myeon, which were medically underserved rural areas in Gongju City, South Korea. Data were collected on October 31 to November 1, 2020, and were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and hierarchical linear regression. Results: The subjects’ scored mean 24.20±3.29 points out of 30 in cognitive functions and mean 17.08±9.40 out of 60 in social support. The influential factors included three chronic diseases (β=-.50, p<.001), two chronic diseases (β=-.30, p<.001), one chronic disease (β=-.21, p<.001); fair subjective health status (β=.24, p<.001); good subjective health status (β=.25, p<.001); cognitive functions (β=.17, p=.004); aged 80 or older (β=-.16, p=.006); and brushing teeth three times per day or more (β=.14, p=.009) with an explanatory power of 53.8%. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop chronic disease management and cognitive function enhancement programs to identify factors influencing the health-related quality of life of elderly men in partial medically underserved rural areas and thus improve their health-related quality of life.

Development and effectiveness of a cognitive enhancement program based on a mobile application for preventing dementia: a study focusing on older adults who use senior citizen centers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a mobile application on quality of life, wellness, and preventive behaviors against dementia among older adults who use senior citizen centers.Methods: Seventy-two older adults who used senior citizen centers were allocated to an intervention group (n=36) and a control group (n=36). The experimental treatment involved a cognitive enhancement program for preventing dementia using a mobile application for 12 sessions over 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using the t-test, chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, paired t-test, and independent t-test.Results: The cognitive enhancement program based on a mobile application was effective for wellness (t = -3.87, p < .001) and preventive behaviors against dementia (t = -3.98, p < .001) for older adults who used a senior center.Conclusion: The mobile application-based cognitive enhancement program developed in this study is recommended as an effective intervention for dementia prevention in older adults.

A vocational rehabilitation partnership to provide transition services to young adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities: The cognitive skills enhancement program.

There is an urgent need for services that support a successful transition to postsecondary education and employment for young adults with neurodevelopmental and cognitive disabilities (e.g. autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, traumatic brain injury). The purpose of this expository article is to describe the Cognitive Skills Enhancement Program (CSEP), a comprehensive clinical program designed for young adults with neurodevelopmental and cognitive disabilities transitioning to postsecondary education. CSEP was developed through a community-academic partnership between a university and a state vocational rehabilitation program. Young adult participants complete programming that addresses four primary clinical targets: (1) emotion regulation, (2) social skills, (3) work readiness, and (4) community participation with the overall goal to increase awareness and promote successful employment outcomes while they transition to post-secondary education. To date, CSEP has supported 18 years of sustained programming and clinical services to 621 young adults with neurodevelopmental and cognitive disabilities. This partnership model allows for flexible responses to participant needs, implementation barriers, and advances in evidence-based practices. CSEP meets the needs of diverse stakeholders (e.g. state vocational rehabilitation, postsecondary training facilities, participants, universities) while providing high-quality and sustainable programming. Future directions include examining the clinical efficacy of current CSEP programming.

간호대학생의 비대면 전공연계 요양원 봉사활동이 치매에 대한 태도에 미치는 효과

The purposes of this study were to introduce a case of online major-related nursing home volunteering during the COVID-19 Pandemic because face-to-face volunteer work was difficult, and also to identify the effects on improving attitudes toward dementia among nursing students.
 This study adopted a single group pre and post-test, a quasi-experimental design. The participants, third-year nursing students, had the Dementia Partner online education and were given orientation on the cognitive enhancement activities program. The participants planned a cognitive enhancement activities program for the elderly in nursing homes. Also they made a video clip to let the elderly know how to conduct the programs. The elderly in nursing home participated in the cognitive enhancement program together with the caregiver while watching the video clip made by nursing students. To identify the effect of the online major-related nursing home volunteering, attitudes toward dementia of students were measured before, and a month after the volunteering.
 The mean scores of attitudes toward dementia measured after the online major-related nursing home volunteering were significantly improved compared to the baseline. By subcategory, it was identified that the score of ‘social comfort’ related to behaviors and feelings of comfort around people with dementia increased significantly. However, there was no significant change in ‘dementia knowledge’.
 This study introduced specifically the case of online major-related nursing home volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic and confirmed there was effects on improving attitudes toward dementia of nursing students even though online volunteering. The education and experience of dementia could make professionals who will care for dementia patients in the future have a positive attitude toward dementia. As a result, it could play an important role in providing quality and safe services to people with dementia. The results of this study could provide a fundamental and practical strategy for online volunteering to contribute to solving social problems in the situation when online volunteering increases in quantity.

A Real Environment Based Virtual Reality Psychosocial Treatment May Help Patients with Schizophrenia to Increase Social Functioning: A Preliminary Study.

Seven schizophrenia patients who have been admitted to the Schizophrenia Outpatient Unit of Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine and met the diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-V diagnostic criteria were included in the study. Psychosocial functionality level was assessed by PSP (Personal and Social Performance Scale), positive and negative symptom severity with PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale), and social skills with SSC (Social Skills Checklist). VRPTP was continued for a total of 10 sessions and twice a week during five weeks. In this study, a real-environment-based VR-PTP for schizophrenia patients was developed. In the sessions, there were different realenvironment- based VR contents including social interaction components such as cafe, market, bazaar, public transportation. There was a statistically significant difference between the PSP scores before and after the VR application (p=0.018). None of the patients reported motion sickness during VR sessions due to the immersive nature of VR. There was no significant difference between pre and post VR PANSS total and subscale scores. In this preliminary study, we discovered that realenvironment- based VR-PTP is effective for improving the social skills of patients with schizophrenia. Cognitive enhancement programs and psychosocial functionality therapies may be carried out using virtual reality in the near future. VR can assist patients in coping with their symptoms and day-to-day challenges.

Costruire strumenti per lo sviluppo dell’intelligenza visuo-spaziale in età prescolare: il modello software VIEP-app

The health emergency caused by Covid-19 and the suspension of teaching activities in presence have required a total rethinking of the school system. Kindergarten has been most affected by the consequences of an exclusively remote system. The purpose of this paper is to present the theoretical-empirical premises of a playful-educational software model, the VIEP-app, a user-friendly application, aimed at increasing visual-spatial skills through a cognitive enhancement program that could be used in distance learning experiences. From a methodological point of view, this paper reports the experimental evidence relating to the connection between visual-spatial intelligence and the preschool period, using first and second level studies (systematic reviews or meta-analyzes). The review process made it possible to aggregate the different sources into three thematic areas: (i) the components of working memory; (ii) the exercise on executive functions in visual-spatial tests; (iii) the didactic effectiveness of the cognitive enhancement programs. The paper also concludes with some summary considerations on the possible research trends and their advancements are presented.

An Analysis the Research Trends of Cognitive Enhancement Program for the Elderly

An Analysis the Research Trends of Cognitive Enhancement Program for the Elderly

The Effect of the Complex Cognitive Enhancement Program on the Cognitive Functions, Depression Indexes, and the Dementia Risk Factors of Elderly Women

The Effect of the Complex Cognitive Enhancement Program on the Cognitive Functions, Depression Indexes, and the Dementia Risk Factors of Elderly Women

The Effects of a Cognitive Enhancement Program in Healthy and Cognitive Impaired Older Adults of Senior Welfare Center Users

The Effects of a Cognitive Enhancement Program in Healthy and Cognitive Impaired Older Adults of Senior Welfare Center Users

Effects of Logical Verbal Training on Abstract Reasoning: Evidence from a Pilot Study

Cognitive enhancement refers to any type of improvement in cognitive performance following structured interventions. Research evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of specific programs to improve cognitive abilities, such as logical reasoning, deployment of attentional resources, working memory, and metacognitive strategies such as self-monitoring, modelling, and peer-tutoring. In recent years, many studies have evaluated the effects of various cognitive enhancement programs to enhance these functions. This paper aims to investigate the value of the Logical Intelligence Enhancement Program (LIEP; Calvani et al., 2017) in providing primary school students with effective strategies for the improvement of high cognitive skills related to issues of a logical nature and problem solving. For the study, two fourth-grade classes of an ordinary Italian primary school were involved in an experimental investigation. The results clearly confirm that the program has potential to empower learners to develop cognitive abilities / logical reasoning. Although needing further substantiation, the findings from this study may be useful for both educational and scientific purposes.

Neuroethical Issues in Cognitive Enhancement: the Undergraduates’ Point of View

To date, legitimacy of the application of cognitive enhancement programs to healthy individuals is still fueling neuroethics discussions. The aim of the present investigation is analyzing naive conceptions of the ethical implications of different practices—namely, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), psychotropic drugs, diet, hydration, and physical activity—which can be followed to enhance cognitive performance. An online survey targeted the opinions of the general public about the efficacy of the neuroenhancement techniques and ethical concerns in different contexts. Measures of general self-efficacy and beliefs about intelligence have been collected as well. Responses of 89 Italian undergraduate students of medicine or psychology were analyzed statistically and thematically. Findings supported the notion that passive ways of enhancing human performance, which fail to imply any personal effort and individual responsibility, are conceived as infringing moral rules, regardless of the context where they are implemented.

Effects of the Cognitive Function Enhancement Program on Cognitive, Physical, and Emotional Functions in the Elderly living in the Community

Effects of the Cognitive Function Enhancement Program on Cognitive, Physical, and Emotional Functions in the Elderly living in the Community

A Preliminary Study of Computerized Cognitive Ability Enhancement Program Using Smart-Toy for Children

A Preliminary Study of Computerized Cognitive Ability Enhancement Program Using Smart-Toy for Children

Effects of a Cognitive Function Enhancement Program using a Workbook for Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment

본 연구는 경도인지장애가 있는 노인을 위하여 전래동화와 전통놀이를 기반으로 워크북을 활용한 인지기능강화 프로그램을 개발하였으며 이를 적용한 효과를 인지기능, 도구적 일상생활활동, 우울과 삶의 질에 미치는 영향으로 평가하였다. 비동등성 대조군 사전사후조사 설계를 사용하였으며, 2014년 9월부터 2014년 12월까지 총 168명(실험군 81명, 대조군 87명)의 경도인지장애 대상자에게 10회기의 12주 인지기능강화 프로그램을 제공하였다. 프로그램 적용 후 실험군은 대조군에 비해 인지기능(F=17.50, p=.001)과 삶의 질(F=6.54, p= .011)에서 유의한 향상이 있었으나 도구적 일상활동(F=0.05, p=.825)과 우울(F=0.08, p=.774)에서는 유의한 변화가 나타나지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 워크북을 활용한 인지기능강화 프로그램이 경도인지장애를 가지고 있는 노인의 인지기능과 삶의 질 향상에 효과적임을 나타낸다.

Effectiveness of the Cognitive Capacity Enhancement Program for Alcohol Dependence Inpatients

Objectives: Alcoholism is a severe mental illness which is characterized high relapse rate and complication. This study was conducted to investigate effectiveness of the cognitive capacity enhancement program for alcoholism inpatients. Methods/Statistical Analysis: This study used quasi-experimental study design. Eligible participants were hospitalized patients diagnosed as alcohol dependence. A total of 60 participants were assigned to a 10-session Cognitive Capacity Enhancement Program (n=30) or control group (n=30). Final participant were 50. The outcome variables were insight, abstinence self-efficacy, and recovery. We used t-test and ANCOVA to test the effectiveness the program. Findings: There were no statistically differences in demographic variables and outcome variables except recovery between the two groups. The findings showed that the program was effective in increasing insight (t=-2.79, p=.006). But there were no significant difference between the two groups on abstinence self-efficacy and recovery. As a conclusion, the ‘Cognitive Capacity Enhancement Program’ was effective in improving insight for the alcoholics. Application: This study contributes to provide framework in developing the intervention for promoting the recovery among the alcoholism patient.

A Multimodal Cognitive Enhancement Program for Older Adults: A Case Report of the Implementation of Brain Training

This case report describes the implementation of a holistic, multimodal clinical program aimed to enhance the cognitive and emotional well-being of community-dwelling older adult Veterans. Participants (N = 15) over age 65 attended a 12-week class adopted from a cognitive enhancement program developed by Huckans, Twamley et al. (2013) and Twamley et al. (2013). Assessment of cognition, mood, and lifestyle variables, were completed at two time points. At post-evaluation, participants made significant improvements on verbal learning, memory self-efficacy, and self-reported health. Results of a group evaluation revealed satisfaction among participants in the quality of the intervention. Clinical practice recommendations are noted.

The Effects of a Cognitive Enhancement Program in Elderly Residents

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of cognitive enhancement program on cognitive function, depression and quality of life in elderly residents. A quasi-experimental with non-equivalent control group pretestposttest design was implemented. The participants were senior citizens over 65 years of age who received home visiting health service in community health center without dementia (experimental group: 24, control group: 22). The experimental group participated in the cognitive enhancement program for eight weeks developed in this study. After the intervention, the participants in the experimental group reported significant improvement in cognitive function, depression and quality of life when compared to those in the control group. These findings indicate that the cognitive enhancement program could be an effective intervention program to improve cognitive function in elders.