scholarly journals Making the Best Out of IT: Design and Development of Exergames for Older Adults With Mild Neurocognitive Disorder – A Methodological Paper

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Manser ◽  
Eling D. de Bruin
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Neurocognitive Disorder ◽  
Design And Development ◽  
Mild Neurocognitive Disorder ◽  
Methodological Paper

Background: Utilizing information technology (IT) systems, for example in form of computerized cognitive screening or exergame-based (also called active videogames) training, has gained growing interest for supporting healthy aging and to detect, prevent and treat neurocognitive disorders (NCD). To ameliorate the effectiveness of exergaming, the neurobiological mechanisms as well as the most effective components for exergame-based training remain to be established. At the same time, it is important to account for the end-users’ capabilities, preferences, and therapeutic needs during the design and development process to foster the usability and acceptance of the resulting program in clinical practice. This will positively influence adherence to the resulting exergame-based training program, which, in turn, favors more distinct training-related neurobiological effects.Objectives and Methods: This methodological paper describes the design and development process of novel exergame-based training concepts guided by a recently proposed methodological framework: The ‘Multidisciplinary Iterative Design of Exergames (MIDE): A Framework for Supporting the Design, Development, and Evaluation of Exergames for Health’ (Li et al., 2020).Case Study: A step-by-step application of the MIDE-framework as a specific guidance in an ongoing project aiming to design, develop, and evaluate an exergame-based training concept with the aim to halt and/or reduce cognitive decline and improve quality of life in older adults with mild neurocognitive disorder (mNCD) is illustrated.Discussion and Conclusion: The development of novel exergame-based training concepts is greatly facilitated when it is based on a theoretical framework (e.g., the MIDE-framework). Applying this framework resulted in a structured, iterative, and evidence-based approach that led to the identification of multiple key requirements for the exergame design as well as the training components that otherwise may have been overlooked or neglected. This is expected to foster the usability and acceptance of the resulting exergame intervention in “real life” settings. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to implement a theoretical framework (e.g., the MIDE-framework) for future research projects in line with well-known checklists to improve completeness of reporting and replicability when serious games for motor-cognitive rehabilitation purposes are to be developed.

scholarly journals Effects of Systematic Categorization Training on Cognitive Performance in Healthy Older Adults and in Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Fofi Constantinidou
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽  
Neuropsychological Testing ◽  
Cognitive Learning ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group

This study investigated the effects of hierarchical cognitive training using the categorization program (CP), designed initially for adults with cognitive deficits associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Fifty-eight participants were included: a group of fifteen young adults with TBI (ages 18-48), another group of fifteen noninjured young adults (ages 18-50), and two groups of adults over 60 randomly assigned into the experimental group (n=14) or the control group (n=14). Following neuropsychological testing, the two young adult groups and the experimental older adult group received the CP training for 10-12 weeks. The CP training consisted of 8 levels targeting concept formation, object categorization, and decision-making abilities. Two CP tests (administered before and after the training) and three probe tasks (administered at specified intervals during the training) assessed skills relating to categorization. All treated groups showed significant improvement in their categorization performance, although younger participants (with or without TBI) demonstrated greater gains. Gains on the categorization measures were maintained by a subgroup of older adults up to four months posttraining. Implications of these findings in terms of adult cognitive learning and directions for future research on adult cognitive rehabilitation and cognitive stimulation programs are discussed.

scholarly journals Decade Review of Social Support in Family Gerontology: Methods, Theories, and Directions for Future Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 563-563
Author(s):  
Amber Seidel ◽  
Jeremy Yorgason ◽  
Áine Humble ◽  
Roxanne Humphris
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Socioemotional Selectivity ◽  
The Social ◽  
Dyadic Analyses

Abstract Social support has a rich foundation in family gerontology benefiting older adults, such as bolstering mental health, decreasing social isolation, and connecting them in families and communities. This study draws from a decade review of 995 empirical articles focusing on family gerontology from 13 of the top journals in gerontology, family, and relationships. Of the 995 articles, 86 were coded as social support or social network. Of these 86 articles, less than 3% included dyadic analyses, 95% were quantitative with just over 30% longitudinal. Over 30 different theories were identified with many building their work off multiple theories. Two key theories appear in over 30% of the articles, social support and socioemotional selectivity. Only 4% did not cite any theoretical framework. Overall, this presentation will review the methods, theories, and key findings of the social network/social support subtheme of a decade review of family gerontology and identify related gaps.

Prevalence of DSM-5 Mild Neurocognitive Disorder in Dementia-Free Older Adults: Results of the Population-Based LIFE-Adult-Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 328-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Luck ◽  
Francisca S. Then ◽  
Matthias L. Schroeter ◽  
Veronica Witte ◽  
Christoph Engel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Neurocognitive Disorder ◽  
Adult Study ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Mild Neurocognitive Disorder

Perceived stigma towards Alzheimer's disease and related dementia among Chinese older adults: do social networks matter?

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Xiang Gao ◽  
Fei Sun ◽  
Lucas Prieto ◽  
Vijeth Iyengar
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Perceived Stigma ◽  
Chinese Older Adults

Abstract In mainland China, as the population ages, Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) is estimated to increase among Chinese older adults. Chinese older adults tend to hold stigmatising beliefs about ADRD that in turn affect their help-seeking behaviour and receipt of prevention and treatment. The Framework Integrating Normative Influences on Stigma provides a rationale for Chinese older adult's stigma about ADRD. Questionnaires were administered in person to 754 older adults (42% male, mean age = 69.54 years) from two urban communities in mainland China. We examined ADRD stigma and the associations with real-life exposure, knowledge of ADRD, health conditions and social networks. This study found that Chinese older adults who had good family quality, lower depression (as measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) and better cognitive health (as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment) were more likely to have lower perceived stigma. Conversely, those individuals who experienced neglect and had more ADRD knowledge exhibited higher levels of perceived stigma. Social networks moderated the associations between cognitive scores and perceived stigma. This research suggested that the quality of one's social networks is essential to reduce perceived stigma among Chinese older adults. Future research should continue to explore ADRD stigma among Chinese older adults to help guide relevant interventions, services and supports for this population.

scholarly journals Virtual reality in the assessment and treatment of psychosis: a systematic review of its utility, acceptability and effectiveness

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Rus-Calafell ◽  
P. Garety ◽  
E. Sason ◽  
T. J. K. Craig ◽  
L. R. Valmaggia
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Neurocognitive Deficits ◽  
Assessment And Treatment

Over the last two decades, there has been a rapid increase of studies testing the efficacy and acceptability of virtual reality in the assessment and treatment of mental health problems. This systematic review was carried out to investigate the use of virtual reality in the assessment and the treatment of psychosis. Web of Science, PsychInfo, EMBASE, Scopus, ProQuest and PubMed databases were searched, resulting in the identification of 638 articles potentially eligible for inclusion; of these, 50 studies were included in the review. The main fields of research in virtual reality and psychosis are: safety and acceptability of the technology; neurocognitive evaluation; functional capacity and performance evaluation; assessment of paranoid ideation and auditory hallucinations; and interventions. The studies reviewed indicate that virtual reality offers a valuable method of assessing the presence of symptoms in ecologically valid environments, with the potential to facilitate learning new emotional and behavioural responses. Virtual reality is a promising method to be used in the assessment of neurocognitive deficits and the study of relevant clinical symptoms. Furthermore, preliminary findings suggest that it can be applied to the delivery of cognitive rehabilitation, social skills training interventions and virtual reality-assisted therapies for psychosis. The potential benefits for enhancing treatment are highlighted. Recommendations for future research include demonstrating generalisability to real-life settings, examining potential negative effects, larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up studies. The present review has been registered in the PROSPERO register: CDR 4201507776.

The Motivation Gradient of Maintenance: Maintenance Goals Are Uniquely Influenced by Proximity to the Ideal State

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yael Ecker ◽  
michael gilead ◽  
Roland Imhoff
Keyword(s):  
Real Life ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Life Goals ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Approach And Avoidance ◽  
Ideal State ◽  
Current State ◽  
Maintenance Goals ◽  
The Ideal

When are people motivated to maintain what they have? We tested differences in the motivation to maintain versus approach and avoidance at different distances from one’s ideal state. Although keeping things as they are (maintenance) is often equated with avoiding changes, we predicted pronounced differences between these two goals. We reasoned that maintenance goals are energized by appreciation for the current state, which increases and leads to greater motivation with proximity to the ideal state. Avoidance, in contrast, is motivated by threat and should decrease as one’s situation improves. We tested these predictions in hypothetical scenarios (Study 1; N = 399) and real-life goals (Study 2; N = 401). Both studies confirm a pattern wherein the motivation gradient of maintenance is distinct from both approach and avoidance. More broadly, our results support a theoretical framework that distinguishes between three basic goals types, and may inspire future research in that direction.

scholarly journals Translating Theory into Practice and Walking Minefields: Lessons from the project 'Through Other Eyes'

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Andreotti ◽  
Lynn Mario T M de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Development Process ◽  
Postcolonial Theory ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Pedagogical Practice ◽  
Global Learning ◽  
Design And Development ◽  
Development Education ◽  
Language Representation

This paper reflects on the lessons learned in the design and development process of the project Through Other Eyes (TOE). It explores the justification and theoretical framework of TOE in the context of development education and global learning by outlining some of the challenges and tensions of translating postcolonial theory into pedagogical practice and of negotiating complex issues of language, representation and ownership in a context of North-South dialogue.

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