scholarly journals Simultaneous Exercise and Cognitive Training in Virtual Reality Phase 2 Pilot Study: Impact on Brain Health and Cognition in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Ashwin Sakhare ◽  
Joy Stradford ◽  
Roshan Ravichandran ◽  
Rong Deng ◽  
Julissa Ruiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Vascular Resistance ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
The Impact

Background: Aerobic exercise and environmental enrichment have been shown to enhance brain function. Virtual reality (VR) is a promising method for combining these activities in a meaningful and ecologically valid way. Objective: The purpose of this Phase 2 pilot study was to calculate relative change and effect sizes to assess the impact of simultaneous exercise and cognitive training in VR on brain health and cognition in older adults. Methods: Twelve cognitively normal older adults (64.7±8.8 years old, 8 female) participated in a 12-week intervention, 3 sessions/week for 25–50 minutes/session at 50–80%HRmax. Participants cycled on a custom-built stationary exercise bike while wearing a VR head-mounted display and navigating novel virtual environments to train spatial memory. Brain and cognitive changes were assessed using MRI imaging and a cognitive battery. Results: Medium effect size (ES) improvements in cerebral flow and brain structure were observed. Pulsatility, a measure of peripheral vascular resistance, decreased 10.5%(ES(d) = 0.47). Total grey matter volume increased 0.73%(ES(r) = 0.38), while thickness of the superior parietal lobule, a region associated with spatial orientation, increased 0.44%(ES(r) = 0.30). Visual memory discrimination related to pattern separation showed a large improvement of 68%(ES(ηp2) = 0.43). Cognitive flexibility (Trail Making Test B) (ES(r) = 0.42) and response inhibition (ES(W) = 0.54) showed medium improvements of 14%and 34%, respectively. Conclusions: Twelve weeks of simultaneous exercise and cognitive training in VR elicits positive changes in brain volume, vascular resistance, memory, and executive function with moderate-to-large effect sizes in our pilot study.

scholarly journals Simultaneous Exercise and Cognitive Training in Virtual Reality Phase 2 Pilot Study: Impact on Brain Health and Cognition in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Ashwin Sakhare ◽  
Joy Stradford ◽  
Roshan Ravichandran ◽  
Rong Deng ◽  
Julissa Ruiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Brain Health

scholarly journals C-01 An Evaluative Study of a Cognitive Training Program on Cognitive Outcomes in Older Adults with Moderate to Severe Cognitive Impairment

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1028-1028
Author(s):  
A Dye ◽  
J Gehling ◽  
J Buchanan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Severe Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Limited Effectiveness

Abstract Objective Because medical interventions for persons with dementia have limited effectiveness, there is a need to evaluate non-pharmacological interventions designed to support individuals with cognitive impairment. Cognitive training is a non-pharmacological approach aimed at improving or maintaining cognitive functioning through practice. The current study evaluated the effects of a cognitive training program in older adults with moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Method Data were collected from seven females and one male with a mean age of 83.1 who met criteria for moderate to severe cognitive impairment as defined by a Modified Mini-Mental Status Exam score between 49-77 (M = 54.5). Participants were recruited from two organizations that provide housing and supportive services for older adults with cognitive impairments. Cognitive changes were measured using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status-Update. Results Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were calculated to measure the magnitude of change from pre- to post-intervention. Results indicated no change in the domains of immediate memory (d = -0.08) and attention (d = -0.17). A medium effect size was found in delayed memory (d = 0.68), while large effect sizes were found in language (d = 1.70), visuospatial/constructional (d = 0.89), and the total scale index (d = 1.40). Conclusion The results provide tentative support for the effectiveness of cognitive training in maintaining or improving some cognitive abilities in older adults with moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Further research with larger samples sizes and control groups are necessary to verify these preliminary findings and to determine if benefits generalize to everyday life.

scholarly journals Acute and Short-Term Effects of Dry Needling in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain and Hamstring Tightness: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Mahnaz Bazzaz-Yamchi ◽  
Soofia Naghdi ◽  
Amin Nakhostin-Ansari ◽  
Monavar Hadizadeh ◽  
Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Dry Needling ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Effects

Background. Chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) is one of the common health issues. Hamstring tightness contributes to the development of LBP. This study aimed to investigate the acute and short-term effects of deep dry needling (DN) in patients with chronic nonspecific LBP and hamstring muscle tightness. Methods. A single-group pretest-posttest clinical study design was followed. The outcome measures were the visual analog scale (VAS), passive knee extension (PKE) test, finger-floor distance (FFD) test, and functional rating index (FRI). Patients underwent one session of deep DN of three points on both hamstring muscles, each point for one minute. Patients were assessed before (T0), immediately after (T1), and one week after DN (T2). The FRI was assessed at T0 and T2. Results. Ten women with a mean age of 21.1 years (SD = 1.6) participated in the study. Significant large effect sizes in VAS pain reduction (d = 1.25) and PKE hamstring tightness were obtained (hamstring: right, d = 0.82; left, d = 0.88) at T2. Medium effect sizes were obtained for FFD (d = 0.45) and FRI (d = 0.72) at T2. Conclusion. A single session of deep DN improved pain and function and increased hamstring flexibility. This pilot study supports the use of DN in patients with LBP and hamstring tightness; however, future research with a rigorous study design of randomized controlled trial is required to confirm the findings. This trial is registered with IRCT20180511039612N1.

scholarly journals Central Sensitization in Neurological, Psychiatric, and Pain Disorders: A Multicenter Case-Controlled Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Keisuke Suzuki ◽  
Yasuo Haruyama ◽  
Gen Kobashi ◽  
Toshimi Sairenchi ◽  
Koji Uchiyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Central Sensitization ◽  
Pain Severity ◽  
Pain Interference ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
The Impact

Background. The role of central sensitization in refractory pain-related diseases has not yet been clarified. Methods. We performed a multicenter case-controlled study including 551 patients with various neurological, psychological, and pain disorders and 5,188 healthy controls to investigate the impact of central sensitization in these patients. Symptoms related to central sensitization syndrome (CSS) were assessed by the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) parts A and B. Patients were categorized into 5 groups based on CSI-A scores from subclinical to extreme. The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), addressing pain severity and pain interference with daily activities, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9, assessing depressive symptoms, were also administered. Results. CSI-A scores and CSI-B disease numbers were significantly greater in patients than in controls ( p < 0.001 ). Medium effect sizes (r = 0.37) for CSI-A scores and large effect sizes (r = 0.64) for CSI-B disease numbers were found between patients and control groups. Compared with the CSI-A subclinical group, the CSI-A mild, moderate, severe, and extreme groups had significantly higher BPI pain interference and severity scores, PHQ-9 scores, and CSS-related disease numbers based on ANCOVA. Greater CSI-B numbers resulted in higher CSI-A scores ( p < 0.001 ) and a higher odds ratio ( p for trend <0.001). CSS-related symptoms were associated with pain severity, pain interference with daily activities, and depressive symptoms in various pain-related diseases. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that CSS may participate in these conditions as common pathophysiology.

The impact of peer mentor communication with older adults on depressive symptoms and working alliance: A pilot study

2018 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 665-671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Hui Joo ◽  
Seungyoung Hwang ◽  
Joseph J. Gallo ◽  
Debra L. Roter
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Working Alliance ◽  
Peer Mentor ◽  
The Impact

Effects of virtual reality-based spatial cognitive training on hippocampal function of older adults with mild cognitive impairment

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jin-Hyuck Park
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Spatial Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Cognitive Intervention ◽  
Hippocampal Function

ABSTRACT Background: To date, there is a controversy on effects of cognitive intervention to maintain or improve hippocampal function for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Objective: The main objective of this study was to exam effects of virtual reality-based spatial cognitive training (VR-SCT) using VR on hippocampal function of older adults with MCI. Method: Fifty-six older adults with MCI were randomly allocated to the experimental group (EG) that received the VR-SCT or the waitlist control group (CG) for a total of 24 sessions. To investigate effects of the VR-SCT on spatial cognition and episodic memory, the Weschsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Block Design Test (WAIS-BDT) and the Seoul Verbal Learning Test (SVLT) were used. Results: During the sessions, the training performances gradually increased (p < .001). After the intervention, the EG showed significant greater improvements in the WAIS-BDT (p < .001, η2 = .667) and recall of the SVLT (p < .05, η2 =.094) compared to the CG but in recognition of the SVLT (p > .05, η2 =.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that the VR-SCT might be clinically beneficial to enhance spatial cognition and episodic memory of older adults with MCI.

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