Use Of Cognitive Training Research Articles

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Cognitive Training Study in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at an increased risk of cognitive dysfunction. Growing evidence supports the use of cognitive training to target cognitive dysfunction in T2DM, but only limited evidence exists surrounding its feasibility and acceptability. The primary aim of this research is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a cognitive training study in T2DM. Adults diagnosed with T2DM were randomly allocated to either a 6-week cognitive training group or a usual care control group. Feasibility outcomes (recruitment, adherence, retention, motivation, data collection, and intervention design) were evaluated using a traffic light progression criterion. Qualitative interviews were conducted to explore study acceptability. Cognition was measured at baseline and post-intervention. Forty-one participants completed the study (age 66 ± 9.8 years; HbA1c 54.0 ± 13.3 mmol.mol). Feasibility was shown in the adherence, retention, and motivation of participants, whilst minor amendments were proposed to the study design, recruitment, and data collection. Participants described cognitive training as highly enjoyable, with study components broadly reported as acceptable. Data signalled improvements in cognition, with large improvements observed in executive function. This study provides evidence for the potential feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy for cognitive training in T2DM. Recommendations for future studies are provided.

Use of Cognitive Training in an Outpatient Memory Clinic

AbstractBackgroundPatients with MCI or mild AD often search out non‐pharmacologic treatments to improve their cognitive deficits or aid in managing them. At BAI Tucson we developed a multi‐component and multi‐domain cognitive training program with patients and care partners.MethodIndividual sessions of cognitive training are provided to select patients at our outpatient memory center.ResultPatients often benefit with improved productivity at work and in their personal lives. They also improve emotionally with increased self confidence in their day‐to‐day activities. Outcomes of post treatment interviews validate these benefits.ConclusionCognitive training can be a powerful tool for use in outpatient memory clinics offering an alternative to pharmacologic treatments. Data demonstrate improvements in quality of life measures including improved mastery of daily activities, improved self esteem, and reduced complaints of cognitive dysfunction.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in children with ADHD: A randomized, sham-controlled pilot study

BackgroundADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with a pediatric prevalence of 5.2%.While medication treatment for ADHD is effective, it does not address all symptoms and a small but notable subgroup does not respond to medications. Adverse effects limit its use and some parents and participants resist use of medication. Thus, limitations of medication treatment for ADHD motivate searching for other therapeutic options. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has been suggested as a treatment for children with ADHD, with mixed results to date. Protocol variables employed, including combined use of cognitive training (CT) and scheduling of sessions, may explain diverse findings to date. The aim of this study was to examine safety, feasibility and efficacy of tDCS combined with CT provided three-times-per week for one-month to treat children with ADHD. MethodsIn a double blind, randomized, sham-controlled pilot study, 25 children with ADHD were randomized to receive 12 sessions of either anodal tDCS or sham-tDCS for 20 min combined with CT three-times-per-week for four weeks. The tDCS anode was over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and cathode over vertex. Assessments were obtained prior to, after 6 sessions, 12 sessions and one-month after intervention. ResultsNo significant post-intervention differences were found between those receiving tDCS or sham-tDCS. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement on questionnaire measures of ADHD and executive function with mixed results seen on computerized performance measures. Overall, adverse effects were mild with no significant difference between groups. However, three children, all from the tDCS group, experienced headaches with two requiring temporary cessation and one requiring removal from the study. ConclusionsAnodal tDCS to the DLPFC using the above protocol in children with ADHD did not demonstrate additional treatment benefits beyond that of CT.

Toward rational use of cognitive training in those with mild cognitive impairment.

The term cognitive training includes a range of techniques that hold potential for treating cognitive impairment caused by neurologic injury and disease. Our central premise is that these techniques differ in their mechanisms of action and therefore engage distinct brain regions (or neural networks). We support this premise using data from a single-blind randomized-controlled trial in which patients with mild cognitive impairment were randomized to either mnemonic strategy training (MST) or spaced retrieval training (SRT) as they learned ecologically relevant object-location associations. Both training approaches were highly effective in the short term, but MST demonstrated a clear advantage after days to weeks. MST also increased activation in and functional connectivity between frontal, temporal, and parietal regions as well as the hippocampus. In contrast, patterns of reduced activation and functional connectivity were evident following SRT. These findings support the rational development of cognitive training techniques.

The outcomes of the computerized training of cognitive functions in patients with MCI in epilepsy

IntroductionCognitive impairments have a considerable impact on the functioning of patients, their socialization and level of disability. Cognitive deficits significantly deteriorate the quality of patients’ life. Currently, the possibilities of pharmacological correction of cognitive disorders in patients with epilepsy are limited.ObjectivesStudy of non-pharmacological program of cognitive disorder correction in patients with epilepsy and the assessment of its efficiency.MethodsWe have studied the features of clinical and psychopathological manifestations in patients suffering from epilepsy. The study included 146 patients with epilepsy (85 men and 61 women) who were receiving inpatient care. The following psychodiagnostic techniques were used: MOCA test, Mini Mult test, Münsterberg test, depression and Hamilton anxiety scale, quality of life scale. 63 patients received cognitive training online, of which 30 patients also used psychoeducation methods.ResultsAccording to the MoCA findings, patients with epilepsy showed cognitive decline, the average score was 20.72, whereas healthy persons’ average score was 27.36. The Quality of Life Scale: the average rate among all examined persons was 69.45 out of 100, 78.60 were the results of healthy persons. In patients with PG1, who used cognitive training and psychoeducation the results of the MoCA test showed an improvement in cognitive functions (1.4, p <0.001) and increased subjective assessment of quality of life (2.77, p <0.05).ConclusionsThe study of the use of cognitive training and psychoeducation in patients with epilepsy for cognitive functions, quality of life resulted in a positive outcome. Cognitive online training is an encouraging area in the rehabilitation of patients with cognitive decline.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Effects of Cognitive Training upon Working Memory in Individuals with ADHD: An Overview of the Literature

Commercial cognitive training programs have been proposed as a non-pharmacological treatment of ADHD-related outcomes, such as learning difficulties and academic achievement. Most of these programs focus on working memory, an essential cognitive ability sustaining nearly every conscious mental activity. In this article, we present and summarize the main studies assessing the effectiveness of such training programs on working memory. The reported studies have failed to show a positive far-transfer and long-term effect of cognitive training both in typically developing individuals and children with ADHD. In the end, we present emerging alternative approaches to the use of cognitive training to improve working memory functioning in children with ADHD.

Memory training in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: Positive effects are found five years after MEMO training compared to control intervention

AbstractBackgroundCognitive training was found to have a positive effect on the memory of healthy older adults, including long‐term benefits (Rebok et al, 2014). This finding offers hope that cognitive training could contribute to prevention approaches. However, little is known regarding the long‐term benefits of cognitive training in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), many of whom are in the early phase of Alzheimer’s disease. In a prior randomized controlled trial (Belleville et al, 2018), we reported a short‐term benefit of cognitive training on the delayed recall of older adults with MCI. The objective of this study was to assess the impact five years later.MethodThis is the five‐year follow‐up of a single‐blind randomized controlled trial (MEMO+). Participants with amnestic MCI were randomized to memory training or an active (psychosocial intervention) or passive (no‐contact) control condition. Interventions were provided in small groups over eight two‐hour sessions with a single booster session offered three months following training. In the initial study, participants were assessed post‐training, as well as three and six months after the intervention. The 127 participants with MCI, who completed the 6‐month post‐training assessment, were contacted five years post‐training. Primary outcomes included a 12‐word free recall task, a self‐reported strategy used in everyday life, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment screening test (MoCA). Participants randomized to cognitive training were compared to those randomized to the control conditions.ResultParticipants with MCI, who were randomized to the cognitive training condition, showed a reduced 5‐year decline on the delayed recall task when compared to participants in the control conditions. Participants randomized to the cognitive training condition also demonstrated superior delayed recall and MoCA performance than those in the control condition, five years post‐training. There were no differences on self‐reported strategy use.ConclusionThe positive effect of cognitive training was found five years later on measures of delayed memory and global cognitive status in individuals with MCI. This indicates that the use of cognitive training is a valid preventive approach and has potential to delay the onset of dementia in at‐risk individuals.

Cognitive control training for urgency: A pilot randomized controlled trial in an acute clinical sample

Urgency – rash action in the context of strong emotion – is a facet of impulsivity closely related to many psychological disorders. Deficits in working memory and response inhibition are potential mechanisms underlying urgency, and a previous study showed that cognitive training targeting these domains is efficacious in reducing urgency. However, the feasibility and efficacy of this intervention has not yet been tested in a clinical sample or naturalistic treatment setting. To fill this gap, we conducted a pilot study of cognitive training for individuals reporting high levels of urgency in a partial hospitalization program. We evaluated this intervention in an open trial (n = 20), followed by a randomized controlled trial (n = 46) comparing cognitive training plus treatment as usual to treatment as usual. Results supported the feasibility and acceptability of cognitive training. Participants in the training group showed significant improvement on cognitive tasks, but groups did not differ in urgency. In pooled analyses combining the open trial and RCT, there was a significant reduction in distress intolerance in the training group only. Results indicate the potential benefit of cognitive training for distress intolerance, but do not support the use of cognitive training for urgency in acute clinical settings.The study conducted in the RCT phase of this manuscript is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT: NCT03527550). The full trial protocol is available on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Impact of non-farmacological methods on improvement cognitive function in epilepsy

IntroductionThe quality of life of patients with epilepsy, their social activity and functioning depends not only on the presence of epileptic seizures, but also on the level of cognitive decline.ObjectivesThe object of our study is impact of non-pharmacological methods on cognitive functions, decreasing of which deteriorates social activity in patients with epilepsy.MethodsWe have studied the features of clinical and psychopathological manifestations in patients suffering from epilepsy. The study covered 27 patients who were in inpatient care. The following psychodiagnostic techniques were used: the Toronto Cognitive Assessment TorCA, the MOCA and the MiniMult tests, Patient Social Functioning Questionnaire. Currently, a group of patients with cognitive decline cause by epilepsy is undergoing remote cognitive training on one of an online platforms, under our observation. Correction occurs throughout regular daily performance, assessment of cognitive functions is carried out on three indicators: attention, memory and thinkingResultsThe following results of the study were observed: initially decreased memory in 88,8 % patients and the level of cognitive decline were directly proportional to the duration of the illness, this category of patients has reduced activity and limited social contacts.The result of the use of cognitive training is an increase in all three indicators.ConclusionsThe results of the study indicate the need for further study of the features of cognitive disorders in epilepsy and the use of methods of psychotherapeutic correction.

Cognitive Training in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Introduction:Over the past two decades, various factors have led to fewer opportunities for hands-on learning in the operating room among orthopaedic surgery trainees. Innovative training platforms using anatomic models, cadaveric specimens, and augmented reality have been devised to address this deficiency in surgical training, but such training tools are often costly with limited accessibility. Cognitive training is a low-cost training technique that improves physical performance by refining the way in which information is mentally processed and has long been used by professional athletes and world-class musicians. More recently, cognitive training tools have been developed for several orthopaedic surgery procedures, but the overall utility of cognitive training in orthopaedic surgery remains unknown.Methods:The purpose of this study was to review the existing literature regarding the use of cognitive training in orthopaedic surgery and to summarize the results of investigations comparing cognitive training tools with other methods of learning. To that effect, the PubMed and Embase databases were systematically reviewed for articles related to cognitive training in orthopaedic surgery.Results:Eleven publications met the inclusion criteria, including six randomized controlled trials. Cognitive task analysis and mental rehearsal were the most common forms of cognitive training identified. All 11 publications supported the use of cognitive training in orthopaedic surgery training. In the six randomized controlled trials, the utilization of cognitive training was associated with notably improved surgical performance and increased knowledge compared with traditional methods of learning.Discussion:Based on the limited evidence presented in this review, cognitive training represents a promising, low-cost adjunct to traditional orthopaedic surgery training. Further efforts should be directed at developing and evaluating additional cognitive training tools for orthopaedic surgery trainees.

Employment programmes for schizophrenia and other severe mental illness in psychosocial rehabilitation: a systematic review

Introduction Employment programmes for people with mental illness vary widely in range, but nonetheless all share the same objectives of restoring or initiating vocational roles to promote recovery in psychosocial rehabilitation. The current interventions available usually focus on the specific vocational outcomes of the intervention rather than focusing holistically on the client’s needs. Method This review aimed to examine the effectiveness of intervention programmes and determine the best intervention for schizophrenia and other severe mental illness, considering both vocational and non-vocational outcomes. Searching five databases – CINAHL, Medline via Ovid, Scopus, OT Seeker and Web of Science – a total of 3108 studies was identified; 24 met the selection criteria and were reviewed. Interventions were categorised into five major programmes of supported employment, integrated supported employment, vocational rehabilitation, cognitive intervention and virtual reality-based vocational training. Results Integrated supported employment was found to be the most effective approach for a vocational outcome. However, evidence concerning non-vocational outcomes of employment programmes and the use of cognitive training remains unclear. Conclusion Clinicians are advised to consider the needs and preferences of the client before selecting the best intervention programme. More research is needed to determine the applicability and the efficacy of intervention programmes.

The Effect of Baseline Performance and Age on Cognitive Training Improvements in Older Adults: A Qualitative Review.

Findings that the brain is capable of plasticity up until old age have led to interest in the use of cognitive training as a potential intervention to delay the onset of dementia. However, individuals participating in training regimens differ greatly with respect to their outcomes, demonstrating the importance of considering individual differences, in particular age and baseline performance in a cognitive domain, when evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive training. In this review, we summarize existing literature on cognitive training in adults across the domains of episodic memory, working memory and the task-switching component of executive functioning to clarify the picture on the impact of age and baseline performance on cognitive training-related improvements. Studies targeting episodic memory induced greater improvements in younger adults with more intact cognitive abilities, explained in part by factors specific to episodic memory training. By contrast, older, lower baseline performance adults improved most in several studies targeting working memory in older individuals as well as in the majority of studies targeting executive functioning, suggesting the preservation of neural plasticity in these domains until very old age. Our findings can have important implications for informing the design of future interventions for enhancing cognitive functions in individuals at the prodromal stage of Alzheimer's Disease and potentially delaying the clinical onset of Alzheimer's Disease. Future research should more clearly stratify individuals according to their baseline cognitive abilities and assign specialized, skill-specific cognitive training regimens in order to directly answer the question of how individual differences impact training effectiveness.

New avenues in brain stimulation treatments for major depression: Efficacy, acceptability, and translation of novel treatments into clinical practice

In current perspectives on non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for mental disorders novel stimulation techniques, modalities, and increasingly also combinations with other treatment approaches play a key role. The limited efficacy and often unfavourable side effect profile of antidepressant medications—currently the most frequently used approach to treat depression—calls for additional treatment options. Several new nonpharmacological treatment alternatives have been proposed. However, the translation of these alternatives into treatment practice has been proceeding at a slower rate. The present symposium is therefore organized around three central aims: – to present results of the comparative efficacy and acceptability of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for the treatment of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression and; – to provide insights regarding the difficulty of translating cutting edge research findings into clinical practice. For instance, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been found to be efficacious in treatment of depression, and yet its availability in Europe remains limited. We will discuss potential means for improving the availability of TMS at the European level and how the characteristics (e.g. high treatment resistance) of patients enrolled in randomized controlled trials may affect efficacy estimates; – we will discuss the use of cognitive training to improve cognitive functions in depression and a rationale to combine it with non-invasive brain stimulation. Depression leads to persistent cognitive impairments in up to 50% of patients, resulting in problems in everyday life. To date it is unknown which factors determine the persistence of cognitive problems and there is no state-of-the-art treatment in either acute or remitted depression.

The Potential Role for Cognitive Training in Sport: More Research Needed

Sports performance at the highest level requires a wealth of cognitive functions such as attention, decision making, and working memory to be functioning at optimal levels in stressful and demanding environments. Whilst a substantial research base exists focusing on psychological skills for performance (e.g., imagery) or therapeutic techniques for emotion regulation (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy), there is a scarcity of research examining whether the enhancement of core cognitive abilities leads to improved performance in sport. Cognitive training is a highly researched method of enhancing cognitive skills through repetitive and targeted exercises. In this article, we outline the potential use of cognitive training (CT) in athlete populations with a view to supporting athletic performance. We propose how such an intervention could be used in the future, drawing on evidence from other fields where this technique is more fruitfully researched, and provide recommendations for both researchers and practitioners working in the field.

Mechanisms and modulators of cognitive training gain transfer in cognitively healthy aging: study protocol of the AgeGain study

BackgroundCognitively healthy older people can increase their performance in cognitive tasks through training. However, training effects are mostly limited to the trained task; thus, training effects only poorly transfer to untrained tasks or other contexts, which contributes to reduced adaptation abilities in aging. Stabilizing transfer capabilities in aging would increase the chance of persistent high performance in activities of daily living including longer independency, and prolonged active participation in social life. The trial AgeGain aims at elaborating the physiological brain mechanisms of transfer in aging and supposed major modulators of transfer capability, especially physical activity, cerebral vascular lesions, and amyloid burden.MethodsThis 4-year interventional, multicenter, phase 2a cognitive and physical training study will enroll 237 cognitively healthy older subjects in four recruiting centers. The primary endpoint of this trial is the prediction of transfer of cognitive training gains. Secondary endpoints are the structural connectivity of the corpus callosum, Default Mode Network activity, brain-derived neurotrophic factors, motor fitness, and maximal oxygen uptake.DiscussionCognitive transfer allows making use of cognitive training gains in everyday life. Thus, maintenance of transfer capability with aging increases the chance of persistent self-guidance and prolonged active participation in social life, which may support a good quality of life. The AgeGain study aims at identifying older people who will most benefit from cognitive training. It will increase the understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of transfer in aging and will help in determining the impact of physical activity and sport as well as pathologic factors (such as cerebrovascular disease and amyloid load) on transfer capability.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), ID: DRKS00013077. Registered on 19 November 2017.

Cognitive Training for Military Application: a Review of the Literature and Practical Guide

In recent years, the potential to improve cognitive skills through training has captured the attention of academic researchers, the commercial market, and the general public. Numerous clinical and healthy populations have been identified as targets for cognitive training, and military personnel are one particular group that may be able to uniquely benefit from cognitive training interventions. Military operations involve a wide range of human performance skills, many of which are cognitive in nature. Use of cognitive training to improve these critical everyday skills for service members represents an untapped potential resource by which to improve operational readiness and warfighter performance. While much of the cognitive training research to date has been circumscribed within basic science pursuits, here we propose ways in which this research may start to be applied in a military setting. In the current review, we examine instances of military operations that may readily lend themselves to cognitive training. Further, we examine the existing literature from academic endeavors and pinpoint areas of exemplary efforts that can serve as a guide for military research to follow, as well as pitfalls to avoid. In particular, we identify and review evidence from the video game, working memory, and executive function training literatures. Finally, the goals of basic and applied science often differ, and that is certainly the case when comparing outcome-based research in a military context with mechanism-based research in an academic context. Therefore, we provide a guide for best practices when conducting cognitive training research specifically in a military setting. While cognitive training has attracted much controversy in both academia and commercial markets, we argue that utilizing near transfer effects in a targeted, outcome-based approach may represent a powerful tool to improve human performance in a number of military-relevant scenarios.

The role of cognitive training in endourology: A randomized controlled trial

IntroductionCognitive training is an important training modality which allows the user to rehearse a procedure without physically carrying it out. This has led to recent interests to incorporate cognitive training within surgical education but research is currently limited. The use of cognitive training in surgery is not clear-cut and so this study aimed to determine whether, relative to a control condition, the use of cognitive training improves technical surgical skills on a ureteroscopy simulator, and if so whether one cognitive training method is superior. MethodsThis prospective, comparative study recruited 59 medical students and randomized them to one of three groups: control- simulation training only (n=20), flashcards cognitive training group (n=20) or mental imagery cognitive training group (n=19). All participants completed three tasks at baseline on the URO Mentor simulator followed by the cognitive intervention if randomized to receive it. Participants then returned to perform an assessment task on the simulator. Outcome measures from the URO Mentor performance report was used for analysis and a quantitative survey was given to all participants to assess usefulness of training received. ResultsThis study showed cognitive training to have minimal effects on technical skills of participants. The mental imagery group had fewer laser misfires in the assessment task when compared to both control and flashcards group (p=0.017, p=0.036, respectively). The flashcards group rated their preparation to be most useful when compared to control (p=0.0125). Other parameters analyzed between the groups did not reach statistical significance. Cognitive training was found to be feasible and cost effective when carried out in addition to simulation training. ConclusionThis study has shown that the role of cognitive training within acquisition of surgical skills is minimal and that no form of cognitive training was superior to another. Further research needs to be done to evaluate other ways of performing cognitive training.

Индикаторы успешности применения когнитивного тренинга в клинике расстройств аффективного спектра

Индикаторы успешности применения когнитивного тренинга в клинике расстройств аффективного спектра

El papel de la formación cognitiva en la endourología: un ensayo controlado aleatorizado

IntroductionCognitive training is an important training modality which allows the user to rehearse a procedure without physically carrying it out. This has led to recent interests to incorporate cognitive training within surgical education but research is currently limited. The use of cognitive training in surgery is not clear-cut and so this study aimed to determine whether, relative to a control condition, the use of cognitive training improves technical surgical skills on a ureteroscopy simulator, and if so whether one cognitive training method is superior. MethodsThis prospective, comparative study recruited 59 medical students and randomised them to one of three groups: control- simulation training only (n=20), flashcards cognitive training group (n=20) or mental imagery cognitive training group (n=19). All participants completed three tasks at baseline on the URO Mentor simulator followed by the cognitive intervention if randomised to receive it. Participants then returned to perform an assessment task on the simulator. Outcome measures from the URO Mentor performance report was used for analysis and a quantitative survey was given to all participants to assess usefulness of training received. ResultsThis study showed cognitive training to have minimal effects on technical skills of participants. The mental imagery group had fewer laser misfires in the assessment task when compared to both control and flashcards group (P=.017, P=.036, respectively). The flashcards group rated their preparation to be most useful when compared to control (P=.0125). Other parameters analysed between the groups did not reach statistical significance. Cognitive training was found to be feasible and cost effective when carried out in addition to simulation training. ConclusionThis study has shown that the role of cognitive training within acquisition of surgical skills is minimal and that no form of cognitive training was superior to another. Further research needs to be done to evaluate other ways of performing cognitive training.

Basic principles and rationale for the use of cognitive training in the system of psychological correction of the maladaptive states of internship doctors

Basic principles and rationale for the use of cognitive training in the system of psychological correction of the maladaptive states of internship doctors