Long-term Tablet-computer Based Casual Puzzle Video Game Intervention in Healthy Older and Cognitively Impaired Persons

Last updated on July 2021

Recruitment

Recruitment Status: Enrolling by invitation
Estimated Enrollment: Same as current

Summary

Conditions

Acquired Brain Injury
Cognitive Impairment
Healthy
Mild Cognitive Impairment

Type

Interventional

Phase

Not Applicable

Design

Allocation: RandomizedIntervention Model: Crossover AssignmentIntervention Model Description: This study uses a 16-week, assessor blinded, randomized crossover design with two phases of treatment and three waves of measurement. Participants are randomly allocated to either the experimental (group T) or control intervention (group C). Group T will first receive the experimental and then the control intervention (T-C) while group C is given the opposite order of intervention (C-T). In phase I both groups take a baseline measurement (pre-test), then group T is given the casual puzzle game task (experimental intervention) while group C is performing the newspaper reading task (control intervention). After phase I (8 weeks) both groups are post-tested (mid-test). In phase II, groups are switched and the control group C is given the experimental intervention (casual puzzle game task) while the experimental intervention group T now serves as control. After phase II (16 weeks) both groups are post-tested again.Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)Masking Description: This study will include outcome assessor blinding as recommended in a publication on methodological quality criteria for cognitive rehabilitation research and computer game training in older adults (Bleakley et al., 2015; Cicerone, Azulay, & Trott, 2009). This will ensure that the person conducting the assessment of outcome measures will be unaware of the participant's treatment condition. For this purpose, a central randomization procedure will be used where a designated staff member not involved in the study will conduct and securely maintain the randomization, contact and allocate participants and use central methods (e.g. phone or secure computer) after the patient is enrolled. This way the treatment assignments are not revealed to the assessors when conducting the outcome assessments. The assessors will also be excluded from any activity pertaining to the intervention activities (e.g. instructing participants, distributing the tablet-computers).Primary Purpose: Other

Participation Requirements

Age: Between 21 years and 125 years
Gender: Both males and females

Description

The focus of the current project is to examine the cognitive and emotional benefits of a casual puzzle video game (CPVG) intervention in healthy older adults (HOA), patients suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and acquired brain injury (ABI). Although there have only been a small number of studies specifically using CPVG interventions, recent studies were able to demonstrate the validity of CPVG in improving attentional and executive function and speed of processing (Oei & Patterson, 2013; Stroud & Whitbourne, 2015; Styron, 2015) in healthy older adults as well as their potential in reducing depressive symptoms, physical stress and anxiety (Russoniello, O'Brien, & Parks, 2009). These findings match general findings from video game training studies reporting improved processing speed, attentional, executive and visuospatial skills (Jak et al., 2013). In addition a recent large-scale study showed that regular engagement in Sudoku and similar puzzles represents a cognitively enriching leisure activity prevents and delays age-related cognitive decline (Ferreira, Owen, Mohan, Corbett, & Ballard, 2015). Since depressive disorders affect between 10% and 20% older adults and even more in persons suffering from MCI and dementia, and that mood disorders affect about 31% (anxiety disorders up to 40%) patients after suffering a stroke, these populations could potentially draw both cognitive and emotional benefits from CPVG intervention (Arba et al., 2016; Barua, Ghosh, Kar, & Basilio, 2011; Robinson, 2003). The main objective of this study is to investigate long-term training benefits of a CPVG intervention on cognitive and emotional functioning in healthy older adults and patients with cognitive impairment. The primary objective of this study is to examine whether a long-term CPVG intervention significantly improves attentional function (visual search) and leads to in-game learning effects in healthy older participants and cognitively impaired patients (MCI, ABI). The secondary objectives include: a) improvements on further cognitive outcome measures proposed to be engaged by the CPVG (attention, processing speed, working memory and spatial reasoning) and b) the efficacy of the CPVG intervention in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress and improving quality of life.

Tracking Information

NCT #: NCT03139799
Collaborators: Not Provided
Investigators: Principal Investigator: Prabitha Urwyler, PD. Dr. University of Bern