Inhibitory control training in healthy and highly educated older adults

ABSTRACT. Executive function training is considered a promising tool for delaying the natural effects of aging on cognition. However, there are still few studies that propose a unimodal intervention with a focus on inhibitory control, and none of them has studied the effect of this type of intervention on older adults (OA). Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the benefits of inhibitory control training in healthy OA by comparing the two assessment time points, namely, before and after training. Methods: Twenty-seven participants were included after interview and checking the inclusion criteria. The training was based on the stop-signal paradigm and carried out in 21 sessions. Results: Participants performed better after training by reducing the false alarm error rate (i.e., for stop-signal trials), reducing omission error rate, showing an increase in hit rate, Go response time (i.e., for go-signal trials), stop-signal response time, and showing a decrease in the level of anxiety. The executive function training had no significant impact on the scores obtained in the complementary neuropsychological tests. Conclusions: These results are consistent with previous studies that support the viability and effectiveness of cognitive intervention for executive functions in OA and suggest a positive effect of the intervention, which may be related to the learning experience of a new and challenging task.

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The effects of combined cognitive training on prospective memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-95126-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yifan Chen ◽

Wei Zhou ◽

Zijing Hong ◽

Rongrong Hu ◽

Zhibin Guo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Executive Function ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Prospective Memory ◽

Training Group ◽

Strategy Training ◽

Control Group ◽

Executive Function Training ◽

Encoding Strategy

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the effects of combined cognitive training on prospective memory ability of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 113 participants were divided into a control group and three intervention groups. Over three months, the control group received only community education without any training, whereas for the first six weeks, an executive function training group received executive function training, a memory strategy training group received semantic encoding strategy training, and the combined cognitive training group received executive function training twice a week for the first six weeks, and semantic encoding strategy training twice a week for the next six weeks. The combined cognitive training group showed improvement on the objective neuropsychological testing (Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale). The memory strategy training group showed improvement on the self-evaluation scales (PRMQ-PM). Combined cognitive training improved the prospective memory and cognitive function of older adults with MCI.

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Effectiveness of executive function training on mental set shifting, working memory and inhibition in healthy older adults: A double-blind randomized controlled trials

Journal of Advanced Nursing ◽

10.1111/jan.13519 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 74 (5) ◽

pp. 1099-1113 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Huei-Ling Chiu ◽

Pi-Tuan Chan ◽

Ching-Chiu Kao ◽

Hsin Chu ◽

Pi-Chen Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Set Shifting ◽

Double Blind ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Executive Function Training

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Changes in Brain Volume Resulting from Cognitive Intervention by Means of the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment Program in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): A Pilot Study

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11121637 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1637

Author(s):

Tzvi Dwolatzky ◽

Rafi S. Feuerstein ◽

David Manor ◽

Shlomit Cohen ◽

Haim Devisheim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Deductive Reasoning ◽

Learning Experience ◽

Cognitive Intervention ◽

Cognitive Capacity ◽

Voxel Based Morphometry ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Instrumental Enrichment

There is increasing interest in identifying biological and imaging markers for the early detection of neurocognitive decline. In addition, non-pharmacological strategies, including physical exercise and cognitive interventions, may be beneficial for those developing cognitive impairment. The Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) Program is a cognitive intervention based on structural cognitive modifiability and the mediated learning experience (MLE) and aims to promote problem-solving strategies and metacognitive abilities. The FIE program uses a variety of instruments to enhance the cognitive capacity of the individual as a result of mediation. A specific version of the FIE program was developed for the cognitive enhancement of older adults, focusing on strengthening orientation skills, categorization skills, deductive reasoning, and memory. We performed a prospective interventional pilot observational study on older subjects with MCI who participated in 30 mediated FIE sessions (two sessions weekly for 15 weeks). Of the 23 subjects who completed the study, there was a significant improvement in memory on the NeuroTrax cognitive assessment battery. Complete sets of anatomical MRI data for voxel-based morphometry, taken at the beginning and the end of the study, were obtained from 16 participants (mean age 83.5 years). Voxel-based morphometry showed an interesting and unexpected increase in grey matter (GM) in the anterolateral occipital border and the middle cingulate cortex. These initial findings of our pilot study support the design of randomized trials to evaluate the effect of cognitive training using the FIE program on brain volumes and cognitive function.

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Multi-component cognitive intervention for older adults with mixed cognitive levels: implementation and preliminary effectiveness in real-world settings

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02489-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hui-Fen Mao ◽

Athena Yi-Jung Tsai ◽

Ling-Hui Chang ◽

I-Lu Tsai

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Executive Function ◽

Real World ◽

Cognitive Skills ◽

Cognitive Intervention ◽

General Function ◽

Group Leaders ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Test Part ◽

Cognitive Levels

Abstract Background In most controlled studies of multi-component cognitive intervention, participants’ cognitive levels are homogenous, which is contrary to real-world settings. There is a lack of research studying the implementation of evidence-based cognitive intervention in communities. This study describes the implementation and preliminary effectiveness of a Multi-component Cognitive Intervention using Simulated Everyday Tasks (MCI-SET) for older adults with different cognitive levels in real-world settings. Methods Single group, pre-intervention assessment, post-intervention assessment, and 3-month follow-up research design. MCI-SET consists of 12 two-hour weekly sessions that include motor-cognitive tasks, cognitive training, and cognitive rehabilitation. One hundred and thirty participants, > = 65 and frail, dependence on > = one instrumental daily activity, or with confirmed dementia, from eight community centers were included. The primary outcome is general cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Taiwan, MoCA-T). Secondary outcomes are memory (Miami Prospective Memory Test, Digits Forward, Digits Backward), attention (Color Trail Test-Part 1), executive function (Color Trail Test-Part 2), and general function (Kihon Checklist-Taiwan). Results Pre-intervention workshop for group leaders, standardized activity protocols, on-site observation, and ten weekly conferences were conducted to ensure implementation fidelity. MCI-SET had an 85% retention rate and 96% attendance rate. The participants had a mean age of 78.26 ± 7.00 and a mean MoCA-T score of 12.55 ± 7.43. 73% were female. General cognition (Hedges’ g = 0.31), attention (Hedges’ g = 0.23), and general function (Hedges’ g = 0.31), showed significant post-intervention improvement with small effect size. Follow-ups showed maintained improvement in general cognition (Hedges’ g = 0.33), and delayed effect on attention (Hedges’ g = 0.20), short-term memory (Hedges’ g = 0.38), and executive function (Hedges’ g = 0.40). Regression analysis indicated that the intervention settings (day care centers vs neighborhood centers), the pre-intervention cognitive levels, and the pre-intervention general function of the participants were not associated with the outcomes. Conclusions MCI-SET is feasible and can improve the cognitive skills and general functions of older adults with heterogeneous cognitive skills or disabilities. It is essential to tailor programs to fit the interests of the participants and the culture of local communities. Group leaders must also have the skills to adjust the cognitive demands of the tasks to meet the heterogeneous cognitive levels of participants. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04615169).

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CAN COGNITIVE TRAINING USING A TABLET COMPUTER ENHANCE COGNITIVE FUNCTION OF HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS? AN ALTERNATING-TREATMENT DESIGN

Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology ◽

10.1142/s0219519421400443 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 2140044

Author(s):

JIN-HYUCK PARK

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Executive Function ◽

Cognitive Intervention ◽

Tablet Computer ◽

Trail Making Test ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Trail Making ◽

Alternating Treatment Design ◽

Treatment Design ◽

Productive Engagement

Even though a variety of cognitive interventions have been conducted to ameliorate age-related cognitive declines, the effects of cognitive intervention using activities in everyday life are still unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects between tablet computer-based productive and receptive cognitive engagement using an alternating-treatment design. Three healthy older adults performed a total of 19 sessions consisting of three baseline periods and 16 alternating training sessions. The training sessions were divided into four blocks and each block involved four treatment sessions. Productive and receptive engagements were randomly allocated to four treatment sessions. All participants alternatively received productive engagement that requires learning new practical applications and receptive engagement requiring little new learning such as listening to music. Prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy and executive function through the Trail Making Test were assessed at the baseline and the end of each session. All data were visually analyzed. Visual analysis results showed that the productive engagement was associated with higher PFC activity and faster performance in the Trail Making Test, compared to those utilizing receptive engagement. These results suggest that productive engagement might be effective in facilitating PFC activity and improving the executive function of healthy older adults, indicating cognitively challenging activities are more beneficial relative to nonchallenging activities.

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Cognitive and Psychosocial Outcomes of Self-Guided Executive Function Training and Low-Intensity Aerobic Exercise in Healthy Older Adults

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnagi.2020.576744 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Lixia Yang ◽

Sara N. Gallant ◽

Leanne Karyn Wilkins ◽

Ben Dyson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Executive Function ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Psychosocial Outcomes ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Low Intensity ◽

Executive Function Training

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Age-related alterations in inhibitory control investigated using the minimally delayed oculomotor response task

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.8401 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e8401

Author(s):

Paul C. Knox ◽

Nikitha Pasunuru

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Inhibitory Control ◽

Error Rate ◽

Oculomotor System ◽

Error Rates ◽

Target Display ◽

Age Related ◽

Oculomotor Response ◽

General Slowing ◽

Response Task

Healthy, older adults are widely reported to experience cognitive decline, including impairments in inhibitory control. However, this general proposition has recently come under scrutiny because ageing effects are highly variable between individuals, are task dependent, and are sometimes not distinguished from general age-related slowing. We recently developed the minimally delayed oculomotor response (MDOR) task in which participants are presented with a simple visual target step, and instructed to saccade not to the target when it appears (a prosaccade response), but when it disappears (i.e. on target offset). Varying the target display duration (TDD) prevents offset timing being predictable from the time of target onset, and saccades prior to the offset are counted as errors. A comparison of MDOR task performance in a group of 22 older adults (mean age 62 years, range 50–72 years) with that in a group of 39 younger adults (22 years, range 19–27 years) demonstrated that MDOR latency was significantly increased in the older group by 34–68 ms depending on TDD. However, when MDOR latencies were corrected by subtracting the latency observed in a standard prosaccade task, the latency difference between groups was abolished. There was a larger latency modulation with TDD in the older group which was observed even when their generally longer latencies were taken into account. Error rates were significantly increased in the older group. An analysis of the timing distribution of errors demonstrated that most errors were failures to inhibit responses to target onsets. When error distributions were used to isolate clear inhibition failures from other types of error, the older group still exhibited significantly higher error rates as well as a higher residual error rate. Although MDOR latency in older participants may largely reflect a general slowing in the oculomotor system with age, both the latency modulation and error rate results are consistent with an age-related inhibitory control deficit. How this relates to performance on other inhibitory control tasks remains to be investigated.

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