The Comparative Effects of Two Cognitive Interventions Among Older Adults Residing in Retirement Communities
Hudak, E.M., Edwards, J.D., Andel, R., Lister, J.J., McEvoy, C., & Ruva, C.L. .
(2019)Journal of Cognitive Enhancement.
DOI: 10.1007/S41465-019-00125-8
Abstract
This study examined the effectiveness of two commercially available cognitive interventions to enhance memory performance among older adults, an adaptive computerized program, Dakim BrainFitness, and a non-adaptive program of pencil-and-paper exercises, Mind Your Mind. Older adults were randomized to Dakim BrainFitness (n = 18), Mind Your Mind (n = 17), or a control (n = 17) condition. Memory outcomes were administered at baseline and post-training. Analyses included 52 older adults with an average age of 82 years old who completed baseline and post-training visits. The Dakim BrainFitness program improved memory as indicated by one measure of immediate recall and both indices of delayed recall (ps < .05). There were no significant differences between the Mind Your Mind and control conditions in memory performance (ps > .05). Dakim BrainFitness training showed potential effectiveness to improve some aspects of memory, while the Mind Your Mind program did not. The effectiveness of different types of cognitive interventions varies. Investigations to delineate the underlying mechanisms of effective techniques are needed.
The study aim to determine if two commercially available cognitive interventions, Dakim BrainFitness and Mind Your Mind, were effective at enhancing memory performance among older adults residing in independent-living retirement communities.
The study found that:
1. The Dakim BrainFitness program has medium effect sizes in improving immediate recall of semantically related lists of words (HVLT) comparing to the Mind Your Mind and control groups.
2. The Dakim BrainFitness condition has more improvement from baseline to post-test on delayed recall of visual scenes compared to controls with medium effect sizes (Family Pictures), but not in comparison to Mind Your Mind.
3. There were significant training effects found in Dakim BrainFitness condition compared to Mind Your Mind but no significant effects found in Mind Your Mind compared to the control group
Limitations:
1. The two interventions chosen were commercially available programs rather than experimentally matched on characteristics
2. There is limited generalizability as the participants of the study (residents in independent living retirement communities) are mostly Caucasian females
The study aim to determine if two commercially available cognitive interventions, Dakim BrainFitness and Mind Your Mind, were effective at enhancing memory performance among older adults residing in independent-living retirement communities.
The study found that:
1. The Dakim BrainFitness program has medium effect sizes in improving immediate recall of semantically related lists of words (HVLT) comparing to the Mind Your Mind and control groups.
2. The Dakim BrainFitness condition has more improvement from baseline to post-test on delayed recall of visual scenes compared to controls with medium effect sizes (Family Pictures), but not in comparison to Mind Your Mind.
3. There were significant training effects found in Dakim BrainFitness condition compared to Mind Your Mind but no significant effects found in Mind Your Mind compared to the control group
Limitations:
1. The two interventions chosen were commercially available programs rather than experimentally matched on characteristics
2. There is limited generalizability as the participants of the study (residents in independent living retirement communities) are mostly Caucasian females