Effects of online computerized cognitive training program Beynex on the cognitive tests of individuals with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) and Alzheimer disease on rivastigmine therapy

Abstract

Background/aim: Clinical trials conducted on the efficacy of computerized cognitive training (CCT) programs have not led to any important breakthroughs. CCT is a safe and inexpensive approach, but its efficacy in patients on rivastigmine therapy has not been evaluated. This study aims to compare effects of CCT and examines rivastigmine to determine whether CCT has any further contributions to make. Materials and methods:Sixty individuals with subjective memory complaint (SCI) and 60 individuals with early stage Alzheimer's dementia (AD) were subjected to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Cambridge Cognition (CANTAB tests: MOT, PRM, DMS, SWM, PAL, RTI), and Bayer-ADL. After screening patients who were diagnosed with AD, we started rivastigmine patch treatment (10 cm 2 = 9.5 mg). The SCI and AD groups were randomly divided, and one each of the SCI and AD groups were accessed using BEYNEX, a web-based program. After a minimum of at least 1200 min of use, the diagnostic tests were repeated. Results:The AD groups' MoCA scores of the BEYNEX-practicing group demonstrated meaningfully increase, whereas they decreased in the control group, and the Bayer-ADL scores indicated improvement in ADL. The CANTAB tests both in SCI and AD and in groups using BEYNEX showed positive improvement in MOT, DMS, and PAL data. Conclusion:This study is a rare example that focuses on both groups with SCI and AD. The efficacy of CCT varies across cognitive domains and shows significant efficacy for AD but small improvements in cognitively healthy older adults. In future studies, integration with a smart learning algorithm may lead to interesting observations on which parameters are more sensitive to change under long-term use of CCT in a large number of subjects.

Effectiveness of computer-based interventions for community-dwelling people with cognitive decline: a systematic review with meta-analyses

“…1 PRISMA flow chart of study selection of this systematic review [ 24 ]. a One study [ 45 ] examined people with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), as well as people with dementia (DEM). b MCI: Mild cognitive impairment …”

“…The SCD investigation study [ 45 ] had a sample size of 60 participants, with a mean age of 67.4 years. The web-based intervention contained not only CT on a PC but also physical exercises (Table 1 , Additional files 2 and 3 ).…”

“…The mean age of participants ranged from 66.3–83.0 years and, in 5 studies, global cognition at baseline ranged from 16.6–23.0 points of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and was 20.0 points in one study [ 45 ], utilizing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Most studies were conducted with a PC [ 45 , 65 , 66 ] or tablet [ 47 , 69 ], while one study [ 67 , 68 ] had a non-immersive VR-technology as intervention, consisting of a home trainer which related to a video screen showing a virtual bike tour including cognitive tasks. Only one study [ 45 ] reported no alternative treatment for participants in the control group.…”

A systematic review and network meta‐analysis of interventions for subjective cognitive decline

“…We included n = 5 studies in the analysis, 19 , 21 , 23 , 28 , 34 with seven pairwise comparisons of n = 4 treatments (cognitive training, education program, physical training, control group). The network graph is depicted in Figure S2 in the supporting information.…”

“…We performed an additional sensitivity analysis including only studies with low and medium risk of bias and an adequate SCD definition. Only n = 2 studies had to be excluded from the analyses due to low‐rated study quality; 23 , 34 results are displayed in Figure S10A‐C in the supporting information.…”