Cognitive Training and Social Interaction Effects on Cognitive Performance of Older Adults

NCT05016336 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 08082021ML
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Aging is associated with a decline in almost all aspects of cognitive functions, particularly memory. Recent research suggests that combining cognitive training with ongoing social interaction may aid in improving cognitive functioning for older adults. Furthermore, accumulative evidence suggests that strategy-based cognitive training may also improve the trainee's memory. In this study, the investigators examined the effects of a combined strategy-based cognitive training and a socially interactive learning method on cognitive performance and transfer effects in older adults.

Conditions

Cognitive Decline

Keywords

Cognitive training; Strategy training; Older adults; Mnemonic; Social interaction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Verbal Fluency Test (Chiu et al., 1997)

  Participants were asked to say aloud as many words as possible belonging to a given category (animal's category and fruit and vegetables category) within a period of sixty seconds.

  Change from baseline (before treatment) to immediately after treatment (12 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Wechsler Digit Span Test (Wechsler 2008)

  Change from baseline (before treatment) to immediately after treatment (12 weeks)

• Words Recall Test (Fairchild et al., 2013)

  Change from baseline (before treatment) to immediately after treatment (12 weeks)

• Corsi Block-Tapping Test (Corsi 1972)

  Change from baseline (before treatment) to immediately after treatment (12 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

strategy-based cognitive training + social interaction

EXPERIMENTAL

The experimental group received twelve 60 minutes sessions of strategy-based cognitive training. (i.e., training in mnemonic memory strategies). We chose to train multiple strategies instead of a single one in effort to reach larger training gains. each session began with engaging conversations between the researcher and participants. After each practice trial, participants were encouraged to share their ideas/stories/associations or visual images (mnemonic uses) in turn. All other participants were allowed to give feedback relating to what can be learned from each mnemonic use or give their own ideas on how they think it can be improved.

Other: Social interaction combined with cognitive training based on mnemonic strategies.

social interaction

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The social interaction control group received the same number of group meetings but without the strategy training. Meetings content consisted of providing tools for making social connections, providing tools for interpersonal communication and raising the participant's sense of personal well-being through group contact.

Other: Social interaction group

Interventions

Social interaction combined with cognitive training based on mnemonic strategies. OTHER

In the first six sessions, participants in the experimental group learned and practiced six different mnemonic strategies: Story-Formation strategy, Face-Name strategy, Peg-Word strategy, Chunking strategy, Key-Word strategy and the Method of Loci. In the following six sessions, in order to assimilate the strategies they learned, participants practiced the same tasks.

strategy-based cognitive training + social interaction

Social interaction group OTHER

In the control group, each session also began with a conversation between the participants. The sessions then dealt with the content of interpersonal communication and the acquisition of tools for creating interpersonal relationships. Participants were asked to share the way they used the tools they acquired between sessions and received feedback from the other participants

social interaction

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 64 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy participants who are active in a designated group in the community.

You may not qualify if:

• Any diagnosis of cognitive decline.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bar-Ilan University, Israel: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bar Ilan University

Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel

Location

Related Publications (18)

• Choi M. Association between social participation and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults living alone: Analysis of a nationally representative survey. Int J Nurs Pract. 2020 Aug;26(4):e12841. doi: 10.1111/ijn.12841. Epub 2020 May 27.

  PMID: 32458529 RESULT

• Hikichi H, Kondo K, Takeda T, Kawachi I. Social interaction and cognitive decline: Results of a 7-year community intervention. Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2016 Dec 21;3(1):23-32. doi: 10.1016/j.trci.2016.11.003. eCollection 2017 Jan.

  PMID: 29067317 RESULT

• Krueger KR, Wilson RS, Kamenetsky JM, Barnes LL, Bienias JL, Bennett DA. Social engagement and cognitive function in old age. Exp Aging Res. 2009 Jan-Mar;35(1):45-60. doi: 10.1080/03610730802545028.

  PMID: 19173101 RESULT

• Park DC, Gutchess AH, Meade ML, Stine-Morrow EA. Improving cognitive function in older adults: nontraditional approaches. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2007 Jun;62 Spec No 1:45-52. doi: 10.1093/geronb/62.special_issue_1.45.

  PMID: 17565164 RESULT

• Chan MY, Haber S, Drew LM, Park DC. Training Older Adults to Use Tablet Computers: Does It Enhance Cognitive Function? Gerontologist. 2016 Jun;56(3):475-84. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnu057. Epub 2014 Jun 13.

  PMID: 24928557 RESULT

• Iizuka A, Suzuki H, Ogawa S, Kobayashi-Cuya KE, Kobayashi M, Inagaki H, Sugiyama M, Awata S, Takebayashi T, Fujiwara Y. Does social interaction influence the effect of cognitive intervention program? A randomized controlled trial using Go game. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2019 Feb;34(2):324-332. doi: 10.1002/gps.5024. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

  PMID: 30430635 RESULT

• Myhre JW, Mehl MR, Glisky EL. Cognitive Benefits of Online Social Networking for Healthy Older Adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2017 Sep 1;72(5):752-760. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbw025.

  PMID: 26984523 RESULT

• Cavallini E, Dunlosky J, Bottiroli S, Hertzog C, Vecchi T. Promoting transfer in memory training for older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2010 Aug;22(4):314-23. doi: 10.3275/6704. Epub 2009 Nov 27.

  PMID: 19966535 RESULT

• Valentijn SA, van Hooren SA, Bosma H, Touw DM, Jolles J, van Boxtel MP, Ponds RW. The effect of two types of memory training on subjective and objective memory performance in healthy individuals aged 55 years and older: a randomized controlled trial. Patient Educ Couns. 2005 Apr;57(1):106-14. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2004.05.002.

  PMID: 15797159 RESULT

• Rouse HJ, Small BJ, Faust ME. Assessment of Cognitive Training & Social Interaction in People with Mild to Moderate Dementia: A Pilot Study. Clin Gerontol. 2019 Jul-Sep;42(4):421-434. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2019.1590489. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

  PMID: 30895883 RESULT

• Bennett DA, Schneider JA, Tang Y, Arnold SE, Wilson RS. The effect of social networks on the relation between Alzheimer's disease pathology and level of cognitive function in old people: a longitudinal cohort study. Lancet Neurol. 2006 May;5(5):406-12. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(06)70417-3.

  PMID: 16632311 RESULT

• Ertel KA, Glymour MM, Berkman LF. Effects of social integration on preserving memory function in a nationally representative US elderly population. Am J Public Health. 2008 Jul;98(7):1215-20. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.113654. Epub 2008 May 29.

  PMID: 18511736 RESULT

• Verhaeghen P, Marcoen A, Goossens L. Improving memory performance in the aged through mnemonic training: a meta-analytic study. Psychol Aging. 1992 Jun;7(2):242-51. doi: 10.1037//0882-7974.7.2.242.

  PMID: 1535198 RESULT

• Flynn TM, Storandt M. Supplemental group discussions in memory training for older adults. Psychol Aging. 1990 Jun;5(2):178-81. doi: 10.1037//0882-7974.5.2.178.

  PMID: 2378683 RESULT

• Chiu HF, Chan CK, Lam LC, Ng KO, Li SW, Wong M, Chan WF. The modified Fuld Verbal Fluency Test: a validation study in Hong Kong. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 1997 Sep;52(5):P247-50. doi: 10.1093/geronb/52b.5.p247.

  PMID: 9310094 RESULT

• Fairchild JK, Friedman L, Rosen AC, Yesavage JA. Which older adults maintain benefit from cognitive training? Use of signal detection methods to identify long-term treatment gains. Int Psychogeriatr. 2013 Apr;25(4):607-16. doi: 10.1017/S1041610212002049. Epub 2012 Dec 14.

  PMID: 23237099 RESULT

• Wechsler, D. (2008). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition: Administration and Scoring Manual. San Antonio, TX: Pearson Assessment.

  RESULT

• Corsi, P. M. (1972). Human memory and the medial temporal region of the brain.

  RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Michal Lavidor, Prof.

  Department of Psychology, and the Gonda Brain Research center, Bar Ilan University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: The study included 32 subjects, 20 in the experimental group and 12 in the control group. The experimental group received 12 sessions of strategy-based cognitive training combined with a socially interactive learning method. The control group received the same number of meetings but without the strategy training. Participants were recruited from designated active groups in the community.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 17, 2021
• First Posted: August 23, 2021
• Study Start: November 18, 2018
• Primary Completion: February 3, 2019
• Study Completion: February 24, 2019
• Last Updated: August 26, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IL (1)