A Novel Dual-Language Touch-Screen Intervention to Slow Down Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

IF 4.9 3区医学 Q1 GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY

Innovation in Aging Pub Date : 2024-05-27 eCollection Date: 2024-01-01 DOI:10.1093/geroni/igae052

Wei Quin Yow, Ka Lon Sou, Alina Clarise Wong

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background and objectives: Bilingualism has been suggested to protect older adults from cognitive aging and delay the onset of dementia. However, no studies have systematically explored bilingual usage as a tool to mitigate age-related cognitive decline. We developed the Dual-Language Intervention in Semantic memory-Computerized (DISC), a novel cognitive training program with three training tasks (object categorization, verbal fluency, and utility of things) designed specifically for older adults that featured two modes: single-language (SL) exposure mode and dual-language (DL) exposure mode.

Research design and methods: The final sample included 50 cognitively healthy (CH; 33 female, M _age = 72.93 years, range = 53.08-87.43 years) and 48 cognitively impaired (CI; 35 female, M _age = 80.93 years, range = 62.31-96.67 years) older adults, randomly assigned them into one of three groups: SL group, DL group, and control group (no training). Participants in SL and DL groups used DISC in either SL mode (i.e., training instructions were spoken in only one language throughout the entire training) or DL mode (i.e., training instructions alternated between two languages), respectively, for 24 sessions. Participants in the control group were asked to continue with their normal daily activities (e.g., playing bingo and reading newspapers).

Results: For CH older adults, we found significant improvements in the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) Trial 5 score and the Clock Drawing Test score in the DL group but not in the SL and control groups posttraining compared with pretraining. For CI older adults, there was a delayed improvement in the RAVLT Trial 1, six months later.

Discussion and implications: Our findings provided novel evidence that implementing DL cognitive training benefits CH older adult's late verbal learning and visuospatial construction skills, and a delayed improvement in CI older adults' early verbal learning abilities.

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减缓老年人认知能力衰退的新型双语触摸屏干预：随机对照试验

背景和目的：双语被认为可以保护老年人的认知能力，延缓痴呆症的发生。然而，目前还没有研究系统地探讨过如何利用双语来缓解与年龄相关的认知衰退。我们开发了语义记忆双语干预--计算机化（DISC），这是一个新颖的认知训练项目，有三个训练任务（物体分类、语言流利性和事物的实用性），专为老年人设计，有两种模式：单语（SL）接触模式和双语（DL）接触模式：最终样本包括 50 名认知健康（CH；33 名女性，男，年龄 = 72.93 岁，范围 = 53.08-87.43 岁）和 48 名认知受损（CI；35 名女性，男，年龄 = 80.93 岁，范围 = 62.31-96.67 岁）的老年人，将他们随机分配到三组中的一组：SL 组、DL 组和对照组（无训练）。SL 组和 DL 组的参与者分别在 24 次训练中使用 SL 模式（即整个训练过程中只用一种语言进行训练指导）或 DL 模式（即两种语言交替进行训练指导）的 DISC。对照组的参与者被要求继续进行正常的日常活动（如玩宾果游戏和阅读报纸）：对于 CH 老年人，我们发现与训练前相比，DL 组的雷伊听觉言语学习测试（RAVLT）第 5 次试验得分和时钟绘图测试得分在训练后有显著提高，而 SL 组和对照组则没有。对于 CI 老年人来说，6 个月后的 RAVLT Trial 1 有延迟改善：我们的研究结果提供了新的证据，证明实施 DL 认知训练有利于 CH 老年人的晚期言语学习和视觉空间建构技能，以及延迟改善 CI 老年人的早期言语学习能力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Innovation in Aging GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY-

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

15 weeks

期刊介绍： Innovation in Aging, an interdisciplinary Open Access journal of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), is dedicated to publishing innovative, conceptually robust, and methodologically rigorous research focused on aging and the life course. The journal aims to present studies with the potential to significantly enhance the health, functionality, and overall well-being of older adults by translating scientific insights into practical applications. Research published in the journal spans a variety of settings, including community, clinical, and laboratory contexts, with a clear emphasis on issues that are directly pertinent to aging and the dynamics of life over time. The content of the journal mirrors the diverse research interests of GSA members and encompasses a range of study types. These include the validation of new conceptual or theoretical models, assessments of factors impacting the health and well-being of older adults, evaluations of interventions and policies, the implementation of groundbreaking research methodologies, interdisciplinary research that adapts concepts and methods from other fields to aging studies, and the use of modeling and simulations to understand factors and processes influencing aging outcomes. The journal welcomes contributions from scholars across various disciplines, such as technology, engineering, architecture, economics, business, law, political science, public policy, education, public health, social and psychological sciences, biomedical and health sciences, and the humanities and arts, reflecting a holistic approach to advancing knowledge in gerontology.