Primary objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to explore feasibility and effects of participation in a computerized cognitive fitness exercise program by a group of adults with chronic ...moderate-to-severe cognitive impairments following an acquired brain injury (ABI).
Research design: This study used a mixed methods design with a convenience sample of individuals forming two groups (+/- exercise).
Methods and procedures: Following neurocognitive and satisfaction with life pre-testing of 14 participants, seven were enrolled in a 5-month, 5-days a week computerized cognitive exercise program. Post-testing of all participants and semi-structured interviews of exercise group participants were completed.
Main outcomes and results: It was feasible for adults with chronic moderate-to-severe cognitive impairments post-ABI to participate in a computerized cognitive exercise program with ongoing external cues to initiate exercise sessions and/or to complete them as needed. Significant exercise group improvements were made on memory and verbal fluency post-tests and life satisfaction. The majority of exercise group participants reported some degree of positive impact on cognitive abilities and some on everyday functioning from program participation.
Conclusions: Adults with chronic moderate-to-severe cognitive impairments following an ABI may benefit from participation in computerized cognitive exercise programs. Further study is warranted.
This reprint represents the articles published in the Special Issue “Brain Function and Health, Sports, and Exercise”. Fifteen articles were published, with topics covering the relationship between ...acute effects of exercise on cognitive function, as well as the influence of exercise on positive medium-term adaptations in populations as children, youth, adults and older. We think that the different approaches used in the different articles will help the readers to have a greater overview of the current research in brain and exercise.
Abstract Purpose The Neurobics Trial is a single-blind, parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial. The main study objective is to compare effectiveness of preoperative cognitive exercise versus no ...intervention for lowering the incidence of postoperative delirium. Enrollment began March 2015 and is ongoing. Methods Eligible participants include patients older than 60 years of age scheduled for nonemergent, noncardiac, nonneurological surgery at our institution. Patients provide consent and are screened at our Outpatient Preoperative Assessment Clinic to rule out preexisting cognitive dysfunction, significant mental health disorders, and history of surgery requiring general anesthesia in the preceding 6 months. Participants meeting criteria are randomized to complete 1 hour daily of electronic tablet–based cognitive exercise for 10 days before surgery or no preoperative intervention. Compliance with the effective dose of 10 total hours of preoperative exercise is verified on return of the patient for surgery with time logs created by the software application and by patient self-reporting. After surgery, patients are evaluated for delirium in the postanesthesia recovery area, and then twice daily for the remainder of their hospitalization. Additionally, postoperative quality of recovery is assessed daily, along with pain scores and opiate use. More comprehensive cognitive assessments are completed just before discharge for baseline comparison, and quality of recovery is assessed via telephone interview 7, 30, and 90 days post-surgery. The primary outcome is the incidence of delirium during the postoperative hospitalization period. Randomization is computer generated, with allocation concealment in opaque envelopes. All postoperative assessments are completed by blinded study personnel. Findings The study is actively recruiting with 19 patients having provided consent to date, and a total of 264 patients is required for study completion; therefore, no data analysis is currently under way ( www.clinicaltrials.gov ; NCT02230605). Implications To our knowledge, the Neurobics Trial is the first randomized, controlled study to investigate the effectiveness of a significant preoperative cognitive exercise regimen for the prevention of delirium after noncardiac, nonneurological surgery in elderly patients.
The rapid increase in population aging and associated age-related cognitive decline requires identifying innovative and effective methods to prevent it. To manage this socio-economic challenge, ...physical, cognitive, and combined stimulations are proposed. The superiority of simultaneous training compared to passive control and physical training alone seems to be an efficient method, but very few studies assess the acute effect on executive function. This study aimed to investigate the acute effect of simultaneous physical and cognitive exercise on executive functions in healthy older adults, in comparison with either training alone. Seventeen healthy older adults performed three experimental conditions in randomized order: physical exercise, cognitive exercise, and simultaneous physical and cognitive exercise. The protocol involved a 30 min exercise duration at 60% of theoretical maximal heart rate or 30 min of cognitive exercise or both. Executive functions measured by the Stroop task and pre-frontal cortex oxygenation were assessed before and after the intervention. We found a main effect of time on executive function and all experimental condition seems to improve inhibition and flexibility scores (<0.05). We also found a decrease in cerebral oxygenation (ΔHbO2) in both hemispheres after each intervention in all cognitive performance assessed (p < 0.05). Simultaneous physical and cognitive exercise is as effective a method as either physical or cognitive exercise alone for improving executive function. The results of this study may have important clinical repercussions by allowing to optimize the interventions designed to maintain the cognitive health of older adults since simultaneous provide a time-efficient strategy to improve cognitive performance in older adults.
PURPOSE OF REVIEWTo evaluate and synthesize recent evidence linking mental activity and dementia risk, which commonly invokes ‘brain reserve’ as the mediating construct.
RECENT FINDINGSBrain reserve ...has acquired several interpretations; however, the most reliable and practical definition focuses at the behavioural level by assessing frequency and range of participation in complex mental activities. Epidemiological research suggests a clear and consistent link of high brain reserve with reduced dementia risk. Furthermore, emerging clinical trials of cognitive exercise suggest that it may be effective for the prevention of longitudinal cognitive and functional decline. Recent animal studies implicate several mechanisms, including disease-dependent and disease-independent compensatory pathways.
SUMMARYGiven the precipitous forecasts for dementia over the coming decades, effective preventive strategies are of utmost importance. Findings from brain reserve studies now meet many of the formal criteria for causal agency between complex mental activity and reduced dementia risk. Key clinical trials are therefore under way to test these claims and results are keenly awaited.
We have compared the effects of different 12-week exercise programs on simple and choice reaction and movement times in persons 61 to 84 years old. One hundred thirty-eight volunteers were randomized ...to either a control group, a two-day exercise group (two 60-min sessions a week of aerobic exercises), or a two-day physical plus cognitive exercise group (two 60-min sessions a week of aerobic and cognitive exercises). At follow-up, the aerobic and cognitive exercise program was found to have resulted in significant positive effects. Improvements were found in the two-day physical plus cognitive exercise group in all of the reaction parameters, particularly improvement in choice reaction time, which is used in most daily activities. Our results suggest that to improve reaction time values, it is advisable to include cognitive features into a physical exercise routine.
The present study piloted a cognitive exercise program in a college classroom to enhance learning of lecture material. Undergraduate students enrolled in introductory psychology (N = 68) completed ...variations of letter–number cancelation tasks with spoken instructions in 5-min sessions prior to lecture during four nonconsecutive class periods. Results showed significantly better exam performance on material based on lectures that followed cognitive exercise compared to lectures on nonexercise days. On an anonymous program feedback survey, students reported significantly greater levels of alertness following cognitive exercise versus before; the majority of students rated their attention to lecture and note-taking ability as above average after cognitive workouts. Although preliminary, findings suggest that cognitive exercise in the classroom may positively impact learning for college students.
The Everyday Technologies for Alzheimer's Care initiative was launched by the Alzheimer's Association and Intel Corporation in 2003 to identify and fund promising research in the use of ...technology—especially information and communication technologies—for monitoring, diagnosing, and treating Alzheimer's disease. At the last two progress meetings, scientific leaders of the two partners, together with aging health technology academic scientists, met to review the most recent research and discuss how current and developing technologies can address growing needs in Alzheimer care.
A list of iTunes apps was compiled for usage with early stage or mild dementia participants. The method in choosing these apps and determining salient features of the most successful apps was ...reported. The results will advance the knowledge base on innovative use of smart technology in clinical settings.
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