Abstract
Background
Cognitive processing speed is integral to everyday activities and can be improved with training in persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, whether this training maintains everyday abilities is not known.
Objective
We aimed to determine whether everyday functions key to independence could be preserved with two years of processing speed training.
Methods
In a randomized controlled trial, we objectively evaluated a processing speed training protocol compared to a control training protocol, in 103 persons with MCI (n = 90) or very mild dementia (n = 13) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Each protocol involved serial assessments, laboratory training, and home training over a two-year period. We accounted for APOE ε4 carrier status and MRI-based neurodegeneration conducted at baseline. Outcomes were longitudinal changes in performance-based Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), community mobility, and on-road driving. We used linear mixed models to evaluate changes in these outcomes over time.
Results
Changes in IADL function, driving, and community mobility did not differ by training assignment. Greater baseline neurodegeneration predicted larger declines in all functional outcomes (p values < 0.001).
Conclusions
In persons with MCI or very mild dementia, processing speed training was no more effective for maintaining everyday functions than training involving common computer activities and games that do not target processing speed. Greater baseline neurodegeneration predicted worse performance over time on all measures of function.
Keywords
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
