Feasibility of a Home-Based Speed of Processing Training Program in Middle-Aged and Older Adults With HIV

Abstract

There has been much optimism over the positive impact of cART on life expectancy for people with HIV; however, those aging with HIV fear potential day-to-day challenges associated with the development of cognitive deficits. The presence of cognitive deficits has generated major safety concerns as it has been shown to impact driving, mobility, and employment. Given the efficacy of a computerized speed of processing training program administered in the laboratory to older adults and adults with HIV, this study was designed to determine the feasibility of a home-based speed of processing training program in improving cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults with HIV. In this within-subjects pre-post experimental design, twenty middle-aged and older adults (i.e., age 40+) with HIV were administered a brief neuropsychological assessment to gauge their baseline cognitive function before participating in a 10-hour home-based computerized cognitive remediation training program. In addition to self-reported cognitive gains, a six-week posttest indicated significant improvements on the Useful Field of View (UFOV®), a measure of speed of processing and possible transfer to the Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living test, a measure of everyday functioning. These findings show that speed of processing training can successfully improve cognitive function in this vulnerable population even when administered in remote settings such as the privacy of one's home.

The Acceptability and Potential Utility of Cognitive Training to Improve Working Memory in Persons Living With HIV: A Preliminary Randomized Trial

“…Another study examined a cognitive stimulant program in a sample of 60 participants (with and without HIV infection) and found that neurocognitive function improved for participants who used the program the most (Becker et al, 2012). Two other studies using speed of processing training in middle-aged and older adults with HIV also showed promising effects of training on neurocognitive outcomes (Cody et al, 2015; Vance et al, 2012). Our study is the first to focus on working memory, a core cognitive function that is important for daily living.…”

“…While some pilot work has been done (Becker et al, 2012; Boivin et al, 2010; Cody, Fazeli, & Vance, 2015; Vance, Fazeli, Ross, Wadley, & Ball, 2012), the potential for cognitive training to mitigate deficits found in HIV-associated NCI remains understudied. Cognitive training is a promising low-cost intervention that harnesses the brain’s neuroplastic capabilities.…”

Computer-Based Cognitive Training for Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Survivors

“…Although the ACTIVE study was conducted in healthy older adults, its findings have led investigators to examine the use of computer-based cognitive training in other populations. These populations have included, but are not limited to, people with HIV (Cody, Fazeli, & Vance, 2015;Vance, Fazeli, Ross, Wadley, & Ball, 2012), stroke survivors (Park & Park, 2015;Yoo, Yong, Chung, & Yang, 2015), childhood cancer survivors (Conklin et al, 2015;Hardy, Willard, & Bonner, 2011), and BCS (Kesler et al, 2013;Von Ah et al, 2012). However, this article will focus on computer-based cognitive training interventions tested in BCS.…”

Feasibility of remotely supervised transcranial direct current stimulation and cognitive remediation: A systematic review

“…Study design. Among the 24 studies reviewed, there were nine double blind, randomized controlled trials [24, 26-28, 45, 46, 48, 51, 52], one randomized waitlist controlled trial study [53], one multicenter randomized control trial [29], three pilot studies [47,54,55], one single group study [49], one within subject study [56], one controlled experimental design [57], one follow-up single group design study [58], one case control study [59], one longitudinal within-…”

“…Of the 24 studies examined, seven studies utilized principles of cognitive remediation [28,29,44,48,58,60,61], whereas the other 17 studies utilized cognitive training exclusively. Participants completed tasks individually (n = 14/24 studies) [24,26,44,45,48,49,51,52,[54][55][56][57][58][59], or with a partner (n = 10/24 studies) [27-29, 43, 46, 47, 50, 53, 60, 61]. Studies used printed materials (n = 7/24 studies) [27-29, 48, 50, 60, 61] and internet-based and/or computer-based programs (n = 18/24 studies) [24, 26, 43-49, 51, 59] to deliver the intervention to participants.…”