Effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Training by VIRTRAEL on Memory and Executive Function in Older People: A Pilot Study
The prevalence of people over 60 years of age with cognitive impairment has increased in recent decades. As a consequence, numerous computerized cognitive trainings (CCT) have been developed. This pilot study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the CCT with VIRTRAEL in improving older adults’ co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/4/684 |
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| author | Sandra Rute-Pérez Carlos Rodríguez-Domínguez María Vélez-Coto Miguel Pérez-García Alfonso Caracuel |
| author_facet | Sandra Rute-Pérez Carlos Rodríguez-Domínguez María Vélez-Coto Miguel Pérez-García Alfonso Caracuel |
| author_sort | Sandra Rute-Pérez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The prevalence of people over 60 years of age with cognitive impairment has increased in recent decades. As a consequence, numerous computerized cognitive trainings (CCT) have been developed. This pilot study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the CCT with VIRTRAEL in improving older adults’ cognition. Fifty-five participants (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mover><mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi><mo>¯</mo></mover></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> = 72.7 years; SD = 6.5) underwent CCT, and twenty participants (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mover><mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi><mo>¯</mo></mover></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> = 76.1 years; SD = 7.6) received face-to-face cognitive stimulation with a paper-and-pencil methodology. Both trainings were conducted in nine sessions (45–60 min each). Participants completed a pre-post training neuropsychological assessment. ANCOVAs and the standardized clinical change were performed. VIRTRAEL’s group showed a significant and greater improvement in verbal learning (<i>p</i> < 0.006) and delayed recall (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.001), working memory (<i>p</i> < 0.005), abstract (<i>p</i> < 0.002) and semantic reasoning (<i>p</i> < 0.015), and planning (<i>p</i> < 0.021). Additionally, more large clinical changes (<i>d</i> > 0.8) were found in the VIRTRAEL condition (in verbal learning and delayed free and cued recall) than in the standard group. Here we show that the CCT with VIRTRAEL is effective in improving cognitive function in older adults and is superior to the standard format. These preliminary findings indicate that CCT is a useful tool potentially applicable in the fight against cognitive symptomatology associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases. VIRTRAEL represents a breakthrough in this field as it is inexpensive and easily accessible to any older person, regardless of whether they live far from health care resources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:10:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ae4abbb44fc4e829194bd108772a738 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:10:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ae4abbb44fc4e829194bd108772a7382023-11-17T18:33:37ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252023-04-0113468410.3390/brainsci13040684Effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Training by VIRTRAEL on Memory and Executive Function in Older People: A Pilot StudySandra Rute-Pérez0Carlos Rodríguez-Domínguez1María Vélez-Coto2Miguel Pérez-García3Alfonso Caracuel4CIMCYC—Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Granada, 18011 Granada, SpainDepartment of Computer Languages and Systems, Faculty of Education, Economy and Technology of Ceuta, University of Granada, 51001 Granada, SpainDepartment of Psychology, Catholic University of Murcia, Guadalupe, 30107 Murcia, SpainCIMCYC—Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Granada, 18011 Granada, SpainCIMCYC—Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Granada, 18011 Granada, SpainThe prevalence of people over 60 years of age with cognitive impairment has increased in recent decades. As a consequence, numerous computerized cognitive trainings (CCT) have been developed. This pilot study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the CCT with VIRTRAEL in improving older adults’ cognition. Fifty-five participants (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mover><mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi><mo>¯</mo></mover></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> = 72.7 years; SD = 6.5) underwent CCT, and twenty participants (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mover><mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi><mo>¯</mo></mover></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> = 76.1 years; SD = 7.6) received face-to-face cognitive stimulation with a paper-and-pencil methodology. Both trainings were conducted in nine sessions (45–60 min each). Participants completed a pre-post training neuropsychological assessment. ANCOVAs and the standardized clinical change were performed. VIRTRAEL’s group showed a significant and greater improvement in verbal learning (<i>p</i> < 0.006) and delayed recall (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.001), working memory (<i>p</i> < 0.005), abstract (<i>p</i> < 0.002) and semantic reasoning (<i>p</i> < 0.015), and planning (<i>p</i> < 0.021). Additionally, more large clinical changes (<i>d</i> > 0.8) were found in the VIRTRAEL condition (in verbal learning and delayed free and cued recall) than in the standard group. Here we show that the CCT with VIRTRAEL is effective in improving cognitive function in older adults and is superior to the standard format. These preliminary findings indicate that CCT is a useful tool potentially applicable in the fight against cognitive symptomatology associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases. VIRTRAEL represents a breakthrough in this field as it is inexpensive and easily accessible to any older person, regardless of whether they live far from health care resources.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/4/684computerized cognitive trainingtraditional paper-and-pencil cognitive trainingcognitive stimulationolder adultsaging |
| spellingShingle | Sandra Rute-Pérez Carlos Rodríguez-Domínguez María Vélez-Coto Miguel Pérez-García Alfonso Caracuel Effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Training by VIRTRAEL on Memory and Executive Function in Older People: A Pilot Study Brain Sciences computerized cognitive training traditional paper-and-pencil cognitive training cognitive stimulation older adults aging |
| title | Effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Training by VIRTRAEL on Memory and Executive Function in Older People: A Pilot Study |
| title_full | Effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Training by VIRTRAEL on Memory and Executive Function in Older People: A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Training by VIRTRAEL on Memory and Executive Function in Older People: A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Training by VIRTRAEL on Memory and Executive Function in Older People: A Pilot Study |
| title_short | Effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Training by VIRTRAEL on Memory and Executive Function in Older People: A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | effectiveness of computerized cognitive training by virtrael on memory and executive function in older people a pilot study |
| topic | computerized cognitive training traditional paper-and-pencil cognitive training cognitive stimulation older adults aging |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/4/684 |
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