Cognitive Group Intervention Research Articles

Don't Forget About Your Memory...Exploring Need And Impact Of A Cognitive Strategies Group On Older Adults Following Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

Abstract Background The increasing prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in older adults in Ireland, with projections of up to 20% of over 80-year-olds affected, is widely documented (TILDA 2023). Due attention is required in service planning to provide tailored non-pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to this growing cohort. This review aims to analyse the need for and impact of a cognitive strategies and brain health intervention group on older adults attending the Integrated Day Hospital (IDH) as part of an ICPOP service. Methods Retrospective analysis of the health care record was complete on older adults over 70 years with recent deterioration in cognitive or functional status. Cognitive screening scores and diagnoses received at the IDH were gathered to inform presence of MCI or dementia. Permission was sought from the authors of a cognitive strategies and brain health intervention group which was delivered to a sample of older adults and evaluated as part of the Jog Your Memory Program (HSE 2020). Results Preliminary results indicate a cohort of 355 older adults. Analysis of cognitive screening scores reflect prevalence of MCI at 15% and dementia at 35%. The Jog Your Memory program is implemented over 4 sessions. 2 programs were complete in October 2023 and April 2024 with 16 participants. Evaluation was complete with 100% of participants reporting benefits including acquisition of memory strategies, improved confidence and increased knowledge of MCI. Implementing this program optimises therapist time indicating cost saving. Final findings will be available for the purpose of this poster presentation. Conclusion The prevalence of cognitive impairment is broadly in keeping with previous audit (2023). The intervention group implementation and evaluation are ongoing. Participant feedback suggests the intervention is meeting the needs of this cohort. Future work will focus on scaling up the intervention group and integrating with other local services.

Programa de estimulación cognitiva en línea para pacientes adultos mayores con deterioro cognitivo leve: estudio de factibilidad

BackgroundMild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is considered a decline in cognitive functions, which becomes more pronounced with age. These patients may benefit from cognitive treatments that help attenuate or slow down a potential progression towards dementia. ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility, fidelity, satisfaction, and effectiveness of the Memory Training and Cognitive Stimulation Program (PEMEC, by its Spanish acronym) in individuals with MCI in an online setting. MethodA non-probabilistic convenience sample of 14 patients with MCI received the PEMEC (PEMEC online) through an electronic device, were assessed with MoCA, NEUROPSI Brief, Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale before and after treatment, comparing these measurements with those of a waiting list control group. Results92,85% completed the treatment; with an average of 92% fidelity to the original intervention, an average of 91,61% for satisfaction with the activities of each session and the perceived usefulness was 97,98%. Statistically significant differences were found in the NEUROPSI Brief and the MoCA, before and after treatment in the intervention group and, when comparing the scores with the waiting list control group, a statistically significant difference was found in the MoCA scores. ConclusionFollowing the cultural adaptation of the program (from a Spanish to a Mexican treatment group), these results establish a precedent that systematic group cognitive interventions are feasible and effective in virtual tele-neuropsychology contexts for older adults.

Effect of applying nursing-based cognitive defusion techniques on mindful awareness, cognitive fusion, and believability of delusions among clients with schizophrenia: a randomized control trial.

Applying cognitive defusion techniques to enduring psychotic symptoms, such as delusions, presents both a challenge and a promising opportunity for psychiatric nurses to manage delusions among schizophrenia clients. This study aimed to examine the impact of cognitive defusion techniques on psychological flexibility, mindful awareness, cognitive fusion, and the believability of delusions in schizophrenia clients. This study used a single-blind, parallel-arm Randomized Controlled Trial design. Over five weeks, 70 clients with schizophrenia were randomized to either the cognitive defusion intervention group (n = 35) or the control group (n = 35). The participants showed significant reductions in the believability of delusions, cognitive fusion, and psychological inflexibility immediately after the intervention and at follow-up. Notable enhancements were observed in cognitive defusion and mindfulness awareness abilities. Cognitive defusion techniques positively affect schizophrenia clients who struggle with persistent delusional beliefs. This underscores the importance of further investigating this approach to decrease the intensity of delusions as part of a comprehensive therapeutic intervention. Psychiatric nurses must receive training in "cognitive defusion skills" to aid schizophrenia clients in becoming more aware of their emotions and modifying their coping strategies for delusional beliefs. On August 3, 2023, the research was retrospectively registered under the reference number NCT05759091 as a randomized clinical trial. https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05759091, identifier NCT05759091.

A SHORT-TERM COGNITIVE GROUP TREATMENT SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED THE SNACKING BEHAVIOUR OF OVERWEIGHT INDIAN WOMEN – A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Obesity, a global health challenge, particularly affecting Asian populations due to inappropriate snacking behaviour and food choices, prompted this study. The research aimed to evaluate the impact of a 10-week cognitive group treatment on snacking behaviour among overweight women aged 30-60 years. In a randomized control trial with 66 female working participants (BMI > 25 kg m-²), the groups were categorized as control (n = 34) and experimental (n = 32). Initially, snacking contributed significantly to daily energy (29.39%), carbohydrates (21.11%), protein (35.53%), and fat (50.61%) intake in the experimental group. After the cognitive group treatment, there was a substantial (p≤0.01) reduction in the contribution of these nutrients through snacking, with percentages dropping to 11.62, 14.60, 10.04, and 7.67, respectively. Post-treatment, significant (p≤0.01) reductions were observed in body weight (4%), fat mass (2%), waist circumference (4.9%), and hip circumference (2.7%) among the subjects. The study emphasized that the behavioural changes leading to healthier snacking can be a sustainable approach for weight management and that making healthier snack choices can aid in the battle against overweight and obesity.

Effects of different psychological interventions on quality of life and remission rate in patients with acute leukemia receiving chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to examine and compare different psychological intervention effects on the quality of life (QoL) and remission rates of patients with acute leukemia receiving chemotherapy. A total of 180 participants were randomly divided into a cognitive intervention group, a progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) group, a cognitive intervention plus PMR group, and a usual care control group. QoL via the Chinese version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 and remission rate were assessed at baseline and immediate post-intervention. A Generalized Linear Mixed Model was used for statistical analysis. Cost-effectiveness analysis with the value of the Incremental Cost-effectiveness Ratio was conducted to realize the economic evaluation of psychological interventions. The total score of QoL and its most dimensions were significantly improved for participants in the intervention groups compared with the control group. The cognitive intervention plus PMR intervention was the most effective concerning QoL with cost-effectiveness. No significant improvements were indicated in participants' remission rates among the groups. The cognitive intervention plus PMR intervention is the most effective in improving QoL with cost-effectiveness among patients with acute leukemia receiving chemotherapy. More rigorous randomized controlled trials with multiple follow-up points are suggested to clarify the psychological interventions on remission rates in this population.

Effects of Cognitive Training in Flanker Task on Mobility of Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trail

Introduction: Cognitive function is considered to be correlated with the older adults’ mobility. Flanker task, reflecting the conflict resolution, is barely explored as a simple approach to train the older adults’ cognitive function. Hence, the first aim of this study was to explore the effect of cognitive intervention adopting flanker task on mobility. The second aim of this study was to assess the effect of cognitive training by comparing it with physical training to disclose how much dosage of cognitive training can have the equal improvement of mobility with physical training. Methods: 232 older adults (age, mean ± SD: 66.16 ± 7.08, female: 74.3%) were retrained and assigned into three groups (cognitive intervention group, physical exercise intervention group, and control group). The intervention lasted for 22 weeks (cognitive intervention: flanker task, 30 min per session, 3 sessions a week; physical exercise intervention: 30 min muscle and balance training session, twice a week, and 30 min daily walking and housework, 2–4 times a week). Grip strength, 30-s chair-stand test, single leg balance with eyes closed, and the timed “Up & Go” (TUG) were used as indicators of mobility. A mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA), interaction effect, and simple effect were performed in statistical analysis. Results: Both intervention groups improved mobility, and the results were similar behaviorally. However, the exercise intervention group performed better in 30-s chair-stand test (25.14 ± 0.67 vs. 23.71 ± 0.76 with p = 0.01) and single leg balance with eyes closed (8.15 ± 0.69 vs. 6.14 ± 0.43 with p < 0.001). Conclusion: 22-week cognitive intervention (for total 1,980 min) could improve the older adults’ mobility to the similar extent of mild-to-moderate physical exercises (1,320 min of functional muscle and balance training and 1,980 daily physical activities), which ascertained the far transfer effects from cognition to untrained mobility domain and found a comparable dosage of cognitive and physical exercise training.

Promoting cognitive health: a virtual group intervention for community-living older adults.

This study aimed to analyze the effects of promoting cognitive health in a virtual group intervention for community-living older adults. This is a mixed, prospective, and analytical study. Before and after the intervention, the tests were applied: Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB) and the Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire (MAC-Q). Data were collected at semi-structured interviews related to the adoption of memory strategies. Statistical tests were conducted for initial and final intragroup comparison. The qualitative data were assessed using thematic analysis. A total of 14 participants concluded the intervention. With respect to mnemonic strategies, the most relevant for the qualifier "Did not use it before and started to do so after the group" were association (n=10; 71.4%) and dual-task inhibition (n=9; 64.3%). According to the tests, the intervention improved incidental, immediate, and delayed recall, as well as the perception of memory for "Remembering the name of the person they just met," "Remembering the telephone number you use at least once a week," "Remembering where they put an object," "Remembering news from a magazine article or television program," and "In general, how would you describe your memory now compared to when you were 40 years old." The synchronous virtual group intervention was shown to be feasible for the elderly in the community who participated in the study.

The effects of mindfulness meditation versus CBT for anxiety on emotional distress and attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment: a semi-randomized trial

Older adults often avoid seeking psychological treatment, thus challenging their ability to cope effectively with anxiety, stress, and depression. The current study aimed to compare the effects of a mindfulness intervention with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on measures of emotional distress and attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment among older adults. Twenty-four seniors were assigned to three groups: (1) Mindfulness-based intervention for seniors (MBIS), (2) CBT for anxiety, or (3) a care-as-usual control group. Participants in the two intervention groups of eight weekly sessions were randomly assigned. Results showed that attitudes toward seeking psychological treatment and depression, anxiety, and worry levels were evaluated before and after the interventions. Following both interventions, participants considered the prospect of utilizing psychological treatment more positively, whereas no changes were observed in the control group. Interestingly, worry levels were eased only in the MBIS group, and anxiety levels were eased only in the CBT group. Our findings support the understanding that cognitive group interventions can effectively achieve their intended aim (decreasing worry or anxiety) and positively impact attitudes toward psychological treatment.Trial registration: clinicaltrials, NCT04165005, 15/11/19.

Effectiveness of the Unified Barlow Protocol (UP) and neuropsychological treatment in cancer survivors for cognitive impairments: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundCancer survivors frequently develop cognitive impairment, which negatively affects their quality of life and emotional well-being. This study compares the effectiveness of a well-established treatment (neuropsychological treatment) with the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) to reduce these cognitive deficits and evaluate the effect of both treatments on anxiety-depressive symptoms and the quality of life of cancer survivors.MethodsA three-arm, randomized superiority clinical trial with a pre-post and repeated follow-up measures intergroup design using a 1:1:1 allocation ratio will be performed. One hundred and twenty-three cancer survivors with mild to moderate cognitive impairment will be randomly assigned to one of the study interventions: a cognitive rehabilitation intervention group, an intervention group with UP intervention, or a control group on the waiting list. The primary outcome is to observe a significant improvement in cognitive function in both intervention groups and a significant decrease in emotional impairments in comparison with the waitlist group. Improvements in anxiety, depression, and quality of life are also expected as secondary outcomes. These results will be maintained at 6 months of follow-up.DiscussionThe aim of this trial is to test the efficacy of the UP intervention in reducing cognitive deficits in breast cancer survivors. The results of this trial may be useful in reducing the presence of cognitive problems in cancer survivors and improving their emotional state and quality of life.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05289258. Registered 12 March 2022, v01.

Effects of Perinatal Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Delivery Mode, Fetal Outcome, and Postpartum Depression and Anxiety in Women.

Objective To explore the effects of perinatal cognitive-behavioral therapy on delivery mode, fetal outcome, and postpartum depression and anxiety in women. Methods The clinical data of 88 perinatal pregnant women who came to our hospital from May 2020 to May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed and grouped into the routine group and the cognitive behavioral intervention group according to different perinatal nursing methods, with 44 cases in the cognitive behavioral intervention group received by cognitive behavioral therapy, and 44 cases in the routine group obtained by routine obstetric care during the perinatal period. The anxiety of pregnant women was evaluated by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). The positive cooperation and negative response of the perinatal pregnant women in two groups were recorded. The trial delivery rate, mode of delivery, amount of intrapartum bleeding, neonatal Apgar score, and visual pain simulation score (VAS) within 48 hours after delivery of the pregnant women in the two groups were also recorded and compared. The incidence of depression of pregnant and lying-in women in the two groups was recorded on the 5th and 42nd day after delivery. Results After the intervention, the anxiety score of pregnant women in the cognitive behavioral intervention group was significantly lower than that in the routine group (P < 0.05). Following the intervention, the positive cooperation score of pregnant women in the cognitive behavioral intervention group was prominently higher than that in the routine group, and the negative cooperation score was observably lower than that in the routine group (P < 0.05). The rate of spontaneous delivery in the cognitive behavioral intervention group was significantly higher than that in the conventional group (P < 0.05), while the VAS score and blood loss in the cognitive behavioral intervention group were notably lower than those in the routine group (P < 0.05). The proportion of women with EPDS score <9 points, i.e., no postpartum depression both on the 5th and 42nd day after delivery, were significantly higher than those in the routine group (P < 0.05), whereas the proportion of patients with postpartum depression symptoms scored 9–13 points were markedly lower than those of the routine group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The cognitive behavioral therapy can improve the adverse physiological and psychological reactions of pregnant women with perinatal anxiety disorder, enhance the natural delivery rate and postoperative recovery, reduce the risk of neonatal asphyxia, and ensure the safety of mothers and infants in the perinatal period. Compared with routine nursing, this intervention method is more targeted and scientific, and is worthy of clinical promotion.

Effects of cognitive and behavioral intervention on self-management, self-efficacy and quality of life in HIV infection cases receiving anti-retroviral treatment

Objective: To evaluate the effects of cognitive and behavioral intervention on self-management, self-efficacy and quality of life of HIV infection cases. Methods: A total of 200 HIV infection cases visiting STD/AIDS clinic at Beijing Youan Hospital from January to December of 2018 were recruited in this study. They were divided into cognitive and behavioral intervention group and control group based on the method of random number table. Both groups received routine outpatient care. The intervention group received cognitive and behavioral intervention in addition to routine outpatient care. The self-management scale, self-efficacy scale and life quality scale were used before and after the intervention for 3 months respectively to evaluate the self-management, self-efficacy and quality of life of the intervention group, and the differences between the two groups were analyzed. Results: There were 100 cases in each group, 69.5% (139/200) of them were males, and 72.0% (144/200) were infected by sexual transmission. After cognitive and behavioral intervention, the intervention group had higher scores of self-management (119.52±20.94 vs. 80.76±27.35), self-efficacy (30.88±5.73 vs. 21.84±7.56) and quality of life (73.51±9.44 vs. 66.91±11.53) compared with the scores before intervention. The self-management (119.52±20.94), self-efficacy (30.88±5.73) and quality of life (73.51±9.44) of the intervention group had higher scores than those of the control group (101.99±21.36), (27.04±6.45), (69.99±10.65) (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cognitive and behavioral intervention can significantly improve the self-management, self-efficacy and quality of life of HIV infected patients, which has positive clinical significance.

Global trends on studies with cognitive training: Mapping and bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace

The widespread utility of cognitive training has gained its value in maintaining cognitive performance, reducing neuropsychiatric illnesses, restoring their abilities, and preventing cognitive decline. The objective of this article is to explore the global trends in cognitive training studies. Publication records were obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) core collection for the period of 25 years from 1996 to 2020. CiteSpace 5.7.R5 (64-bit) W version software was used for mapping and bibliometric analysis. Overall, 4,575 records were retrieved and analyzed using bibliometric approaches such as dual-overlay analysis, author co-citation analysis (ACA), document co-citation analysis (DCA), and keyword analysis. It was found that the publication records were increased steadily in the recent five years (2016-2020). The US academic institutions and journals played the dominant role in the field of cognitive training. However, University College London (UCL) had contributed for the highest publication records (128) with a centrality value of 0.12. Few studies were contributed by the developing countries/territories. Author Spector, A had the highest number of publications (47). However, Author Simons, DT as the top-author based on citation burst value (35.15) focused on brain-training interventions. Through the DCA, it was found that working memory training has to be the predominant trend in this domain. The most recent burst keywords such as ‘cognitive intervention,’ ‘plasticity,’ ‘group cognitive intervention,’ ‘virtual reality,’ and ‘prevention’ were considered to be the indicators of emerging trends.

A controlled clinical efficacy trial of multimodal cognitive rehabilitation on episodic memory functioning in older adults with traumatic brain injury.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 12-week, 24-session multimodal group cognitive intervention, the Cognitive Enrichment Program (CEP), on episodic memory in older adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) compared to an active control group that received usual care in the form of individual holistic rehabilitation. In total, 37 patients with a TBI who were 57 to 90 years old were assigned to experimental (n=23) and control (n=14) groups in a semi-randomized, controlled, before-after intervention trial with follow-up at 6 months, with blinded outcome measurement. The CEP's Memory module consisted of memory strategies to promote encoding. Efficacy was evaluated by using Face-name association, Word list recall, and Text memory measures, and generalization was assessed with the Self-Evaluation Memory Questionnaire (SEMQ), the Psychological General Well-Being Index, and a satisfaction questionnaire. ANCOVA mixed model repeated-measures analysis revealed a strong group-by-time interaction, with the experimental group showing statistically significant improvement on the Face-name association test, with a large effect size. We also found a statistically significant group-by-time interaction on 3 dimensions of the SEMQ generalization measure: the experimental group showed increased memorization of the content of Conversations, reduced Slips of attention, and increased memory of Political and social events, with medium to large effect sizes. The group also showed clinically significant improvements in psychological well-being. Scores on the satisfaction questionnaire indicated a perceived positive impact on daily life habits requiring memory abilities. The CEP is a promising cognitive rehabilitation program for older individuals with TBI, showing high satisfaction in participants, that could improve their episodic memory functioning as well as enhance their psychological well-being. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04590911.

A Short, Multimodal Activity Break Incorporated Into the Learning Context During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Effects of Physical Activity and Positive Expressive Writing on University Students' Mental Health-Results and Recommendations From a Pilot Study.

Physical inactivity, sedentary behavior and mental ill health, due to high levels of perceived stress or self-reported depressive symptoms, are highly prevalent among university students. There are concerns that these behaviors and mental symptoms have significantly increased during the current Covid-19 pandemic, partly because academic life has changed considerably from face-to-face communication to e-learning and studying at home. Self-regulation and physical activity are hard to maintain during pandemic lockdowns. Short activity breaks could be helpful to avoid physical inactivity and sustain mental health. The breaks should comprise short and easy-implementable physical activity exercises that can be integrated into the learning context. Moreover, cognitive interventions, such as writing about positive events and feelings might help as coping strategy for self-regulation during study breaks. This study investigated and compared the effects of a physical activity intervention and a cognitive intervention (positive expressive writing) on mental health among university students. Both interventions are particularly suitable for use at home. N = 20 university students, studying in Germany, were assigned to a physical activity group or a cognitive intervention group. The physical activity intervention consisted of a mix of physical exercises including endurance exercises, muscular strength, relaxation, and ballroom dance movements. The interventions were carried out guided, once a week, for 5–10 mins at the beginning of classes. The effects of group × time showed no significant interaction on self-reported perceived stress, mood, quality of life (QoL) assessed online and compared at the beginning of the term before the intervention (T0) and at the end of the term after the intervention (T3). However, the physical activity group reported a similar physical activity level per day over time, while the cognitive intervention group showed a decrease in physical activity from T0 to T3. Low-dose, short physical activity interventions as well as cognitive interventions consisting of positive expressive writing could buffer university students' perceived stress, mood, and QoL across the term. Moreover, both interventions seem to be promising in buffering the negative side effects of stress during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The effect of combined cognitive intervention and physical exercise on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The state of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) provides an optimal window for preventing progression to dementia. Combined cognitive intervention and physical exercise may yield additive and synergistic effects on cognition in older adults with MCI. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a combined intervention to improve cognition in older adults with MCI by comparing a control group that underwent only cognitive intervention, a control group that underwent only physical exercise, and a control group that did not undergo cognitive intervention or physical exercise. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The online databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were systematically searched. The outcomes were global cognition, memory, and executive function/attention. A sensitivity analysis was conducted when the I2 statistic was > 50%. A total of 16 studies were included. The results showed that the combined intervention had positive effects on global cognition compared to the effects of the other control group [SMD = 0.27, 95% CI (0.09, 0.44), p = 0.003]. Regarding memory, the combined intervention had positive effects compared to the effects observed in the single physical exercise group [SMD = 0.25, 95% CI (0.07, 0.44), p = 0.006] and the other control group [SMD = 0.29, 95% CI (0.12, 0.47), p = 0.001]. For executive function/attention, the combined intervention had also positive effects compared to the effects of the single cognitive intervention group [SMD = 0.28, 95% CI (0.09, 0.47), p = 0.004], the single physical exercise group [SMD = 0.32, 95% CI (0.16, 0.49), p = 0.0002], and the other control group [SMD = 0.23, 95% CI (0.05, 0.41), p = 0.01]. The combined intervention resulted in cognitive benefits in older adults with MCI and exhibited limited superiority over the single cognitive intervention and the single physical exercise on cognitive subdomains.

"Train Your Brain" Cognitive Intervention Group Program for Singaporean Older Adult Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Feasibility Study.

The "Train Your Brain" (TYB) cognitive intervention group program was developed based on previous research with the goal of remediating cognitive impairments for elderly Singaporean people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study reports a pilot evaluation of feasibility (defined as participant attendance, retention rate, satisfaction and usefulness) and preliminary efficacy of the TYB program. Nineteen participants with MCI aged ≥ 50 years were recruited from a memory clinic in Singapore, with 14 receiving the TYB intervention. Participants were allocated in order of recruitment into consecutive identical groups for a 9-session program on brain health and cognitive training. Participants received pre- and post-intervention measures of cognition and completed feedback forms reporting on satisfaction with, and utility of, the TYB program. TYB was well attended (85% attendance for the first 6 sessions; 83% for the full 9-session TYB program). Participant satisfaction was high, with positive participant feedback reporting that TYB offered useful cognitive strategies which participants could implement in their daily life. Despite the small sample size and absence of control group, repeated-measures t-tests revealed significant pre- to post-intervention intra-individual improvement in global cognition measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and in executive function on the Brixton Spatial Anticipation Test. This pilot study provides supportive preliminary evidence for feasibility of TYB, with suggestions of efficacy of this program as a culturally and linguistically appropriate intervention for English-speaking older adults with MCI in Singapore.

The effect of smartphone app‐based cognitive training on cognition in community‐dwelling elderly: A randomized controlled trial

AbstractBackgroundMost of previous cognitive intervention studies provided group cognitive intervention for a short period of time, which are limited by requirement of money, time, and space in real clinical circumstances. Therefore, easily accessible way of cognitive training should be developed and tested in a large cohort of the elderly. We investigated the effectiveness of smartphone app (InBrain Trainer) based cognitive training for 12 months on cognitive improvement in the community‐dwelling healthy elderly.MethodThis App‐based Cognitive Training at Home (ACTH) study is a randomized, single‐masked, parallel group study, which was conducted between March 2018 to August 2019 at Gangnam Center for Dementia, in Seoul, South Korea. We recruited 389 healthy volunteers aged over 60 and they were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention group experienced daily app‐based cognitive training at home (with regular feedback from administrator) and monthly group cognitive training for 12 months. All participants underwent cognitive screening test (CST) at baseline, 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was the change in total composite score on CST, and the secondary outcomes included changes in composite scores of five cognitive domains, which were assessed using linear mixed effects models.ResultWhen the intervention‐by‐visit interaction effect was investigated, the intervention group showed a larger increase on total scores (p &lt; 0.001 at 6 months, p = 0.001 at 12 months), on language (p &lt;0.001 both at 6 and 12 months) and memory composite scores (p=0.006 at 6 months, p&lt;0.001 at 12 months) compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in changes at 12 months in attention (p=0.72), visuospatial (p=0.994) and executive composite scores (p = 0.929) between the intervention and the control group. (Figure 1)ConclusionThis study demonstrated that app‐based cognitive training could enhance general cognition in the healthy elderly. Therefore, this cognitive training tool could be usefully utilized for the purpose of preventing cognitive decline on a community basis.

Improving Executive Functions in Elementary Schoolchildren

&lt;p style="text-align:justify"&gt;Executive Functions (EFs) describe a set of cognitive control abilities that help children to develop self-regulated behavior and do well in their schooling. The promotion of EFs in children at social risk is an area of relevance for neurosciences and education. On this basis, the present study set out to analyze a school-based intervention targeted to strengthening EFs in Argentine children at social risk. Participants were 69 children from 8 to 10 years old, from an urban-marginalized federal school in Mendoza. A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design was used, with a control group. The cognitive intervention was embedded in the school curriculum and was carried out for a month and a half. The schoolchildren were evaluated before and after the intervention with EFs’ neuropsychological tests. The main results showed that the group cognitive intervention was associated with gains in the schoolchildren’s attention processes, although it did not favor other EFs, which could indicate moderate effectiveness. These data provide evidence in favor of ecological interventions as a way to promote attention development trajectories in children at social risk, and in turn, draw up guidelines to reflect on the design and the modalities of school-based interventions.&lt;/p&gt;

A 14-Week Intervention Study on Changing Preservice Teachers’ Psychological Perspectives on Inclusion: Explicit and Implicit Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, and Stress Perception Toward Inclusion

Research has indicated the importance of preservice teacher education programs that focus on fostering positive psychological aspects relevant to teaching in inclusive settings such as attitudes or self-efficacy. Previous research lacks theoretical underpinning and is limited due to methodological characteristics of the studies (e.g., no control group). Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the effects of different theoretically derived interventions (IG1: information-based cognitive intervention group; IG2: information-based and practical field experience intervention group) in comparison to a control group (CG) on changes in preservice teachers’ perspective on teaching inclusively, i.e., explicit, implicit attitudes; self-efficacy, stress perception, relevant to teach in inclusive settings. Results showed no differences in the development (pre to post intervention) between CG and IG1 as well as CG and IG2. Even though, significant differences in changes in explicit attitudes and stress perception were found between IG1 and IG2 in favor of IG2. Results will be discussed considering confounding variables that future research should further investigate.

Effect of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy on the Mental Health and Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer

To study the effect of mindfulness based cognitive therapy on the mental health and quality of life of breast cancer patients. A total of 84 breast cancer patients who underwent the surgical resection in the department of breast surgery in our hospital from August 2017 to August 2018 were selected. The 84 patients were randomly divided into the mindfulness based cognitive therapy intervention group (n=42) and the control group (n=42). The patients in the mindfulness based cognitive therapy group received an 8 w mindfulness based cognitive therapy training, while the patients in the control group only received the routine nursing during this period. After the 8th w, the patients in the control group and mindfulness based cognitive therapy group received the same mindfulness based cognitive therapy training program, and the changes in mental health and quality of life of the patients in the two groups were evaluated after 8 and 12 w of intervention. Compared with the control group, the psychological perplexity [anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-A) and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-D)], fear of cancer and mental health in the mindfulness based cognitive therapy group were significantly improved in the 8th w, and the difference between the two groups was still significant at the 12th w (p<0.05). After the intervention, the results showed that the fatigue degree in the mindfulness based cognitive therapy group were significantly reduced and the quality of life was significantly improved (p<0.05). Mindfulness based cognitive therapy can improve the psychological, physiological and mental state of the patients with non-metastatic breast cancer, which is worth popularizing and applying in the clinic.