The ACTIVE Cognitive Training Trial and Health-Related Quality of Life: Protection That Lasts for 5 Years

Abstract

Adults aged 65 years or older (2802) were enrolled and randomized to three cognitive interventions or a no-contact control group. Data on 1804 participants were available at both the 2- and 5-year follow-ups. HRQoL was measured by the eight MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) scales. Clinically relevant decline on each scale was defined as a drop of > or = 0.5 standard deviations from baseline. Extensive HRQoL decline was defined as clinically relevant drops on (i) > or = 4 SF-36 scales, and (ii) > or = 3 SF-36 scales, and was assessed using multiple logistic regressions, weighted to adjust for potential attrition bias. Results. At 2 years post-training, 23.7% and 36.6% had clinically relevant drops on > or = 4 and > or = 3 SF-36 scales, respectively. At 5 years post-training, 32.9% and 47.3% had clinically relevant drops on > or = 4 and > or = 3 SF-36 scales, respectively. Participants in the speed of processing intervention arm were significantly less likely to have extensive HRQoL decline compared to participants in the control group regardless of the threshold or time period, whereas participants in the memory and reasoning intervention arms were significantly less like to have extensive HRQoL decline only at 5 years post-training and only at the lower threshold. Conclusion. The effect of the speed of processing intervention was stronger and evident earlier than those for the memory and reasoning interventions. This result stems from the speed of processing intervention being the most procedural intervention, operating through sensory-motor elaboration and repetition, bringing about a broader pattern of regional brain activation. At 5 years post-training, however, all three interventions were successful in protecting against a lower threshold of age-related extensive declines in HRQoL.

Action video game training reduces the Simon Effect

“…Action game play has also been linked to improved performance in professions requiring accurate perceptual discrimination and motor control (Sclickum, Hedman, Enochsson, et al, 2009), while commercially developed Bbrain training^software and active game environments have the potential to improve cognitive flexibility and response selection in aging (Walinsky, Unverzagt, Smith et al, 2006) and clinical populations (Li, Ngo, Nguyen, & Levi, 2011). The effectiveness of game play training, however, is likely to reflect the format and tempo of the game as well as differences between players.…”

The Effects of a Physical Activity Program and a Cognitive Training Program on the Long-Term Memory and Selective Attention of Older Adults: A Comparative Study

“…effectiveness of this type of activity (Ball et al, 2002;Wolinski et al, 2006), even if there are still some unanswered questions about the long-term effects of this training, especially in relation to the possibility of delaying Alzheimer's 80 disease (Papp, Walsh, & Snyder, 2009). However, cognitive training seems to be effective on specific cognitive functions, including long-term memory (Belleville et al, 2006) and selective attention (Mozolic, Long, Morgan, Rawley-Payne, & Laurienti, 2011).…”

Relating motor and cognitive interventions in animals and humans

“…In the trial, nearly 3,000 participants were randomly assigned to either 10 sessions of training in memory, reasoning, speed of processing or to a control group. Although the group who underwent training showed signi cant improvements in individual components of cognition and slower decline in quality of life [85], no improvements in ADL measures were observed [86].…”