Effectiveness of a community-based computerised cognitive training

programme (NeeuroFIT) on cognition, gait, and balance in older people

Peishi Yeo1, Tan Si Min Lynn1, Philip Yap1,2, Tze Pin Ng1,3, Shiou Liang Wee1
1 Geriatric
Education and Research Institute, 2 Department of Geriatric Medicine, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital,
3 Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

INTRODUCTION Table 2. Participants’ Characteristics

↑ Gait & Balance Intervention Control Group
↑ Cognition Computerised
Variable [N (%) or M (SD)] Group (N = 25) (N = 27)
Cognitive
Improved memory, Improved gait speed, Age (at screening) 67.08 (7.11) 68.74 (5.86)
Training (CCT)
working memory, balance in healthy 17 (68.00%) 19 (70.37%)
Female
visuospatial skills in sedentary older adults6
• Cognitive impairment is linked to
Education
healthy older adults1-3
falls & abnormal gait7,8 • Secondary 12 (48.00%) 13 (48.15%)
• In Animals: molecular, synaptic, and
• Cognitive functioning can predict • Post-Secondary 7 (28.00%) 9 (33.33%)
neural changes in the brain4
• In Humans: ↑ serum levels of brain- longitudinal gait speed decline9 • Tertiary & Above 2 (8.00%) 2 (7.41%)
derived neurotrophic factor5 Preferred Language: English 12 (48.00%) 15 (55.56%)
Aim: Evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of community-based CCT Class Attendance 16.88 (2.83) –
on cognition, gait, and balance in Singaporean seniors Modified Mini-Mental State
28.40 (1.68) 28.44 (1.71)
Examination (MMSE)
METHODS Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) 1.20 (1.58) 1.19 (1.66)
Participants: 52 healthy community-dwelling seniors were randomised Exercise ≥1/week 20 (80.00%) 23 (85.19%)
into the intervention or waitlist control group
• ≥ 55 years old
• English/Chinese-speaking RESULTS
• MMSE ≥ 24; GDS ≤ 8; no neuropsychiatric disorders or severe Intervention group attended ≥ 12 CCT sessions. No significant group
walking/balance impairments differences for all baseline demographics and variables.

Intervention Group Control Cognitive Functioning: from 1st to 2nd assessment

Randomisation

CCT
(N = 25)
(usual activities) • Total RBANS score (p = .039) and figure recall score (p = .007) increased
in the intervention group but remain unchanged in the control group.
Control Group Control CCT • Picture naming remained unchanged in the intervention group but
(usual activities)
(N = 27) decreased in the control group (p = .032).
• Intervention group required fewer prompts during CTT (p = .045).
1st Assessment 2nd Assessment Physical Functioning
• Cognitive • Cognitive • From 1st to 2nd assessment, BBS scores dropped in the control group (p
• Physical • Physical
= .048) but was maintained in the intervention group.
Cognitive Assessments Physical Assessments • There were no changes in gait measures.
• Repeatable Battery for the • GaitRite: gait speed single & dual
Assessment of Neuropsychological task gait speed, dual task cost, gait DISCUSSION
Status (RBANS) variability index (GVI) CCT for healthy community-dwelling seniors is feasible and effective. CCT
• Colour Trails Test Part 2 (CTT) • Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
has the potential to enhance overall cognitive functioning, memory, and
CCT: NeeuroFIT Programme attention in healthy seniors with transferable effects on maintaining
• Developed by Neeuro Pte Ltd (https://www. truncal balance. ≥80% participants participate in physical activities at
neeuro.com/neeurofit-brain-training-course-for-seniors/)
• 20 2-hour instructor-led training least once a week. Greater improvements in physical functioning might be
sessions conducted 2x/week observed in a more sedentary sample.
• Use of brain training mobile app (“Memorie”)
coupled with EEG headset (“SenzeBand”) Future Directions
• Play cognitively stimulating games targeting • Examine the consistency and longevity of the above findings in a larger
attention, memory, decision-making, spatial sample.
ability, and cognitive flexibility
• Examine the effectiveness of CCT in healthy sedentary seniors.

Table 1. Change from 1st to 2nd Assessment

Intervention Group Control Group
↑ Total ↑ Figure
Dependent Variable RBANS Score Recall Score
1st Assessment 2nd Assessment 1st Assessment 2nd Assessment
RBANS
Total Score 199.24 (35.21)a 204.80 (37.00)a 206.26 (23.72) 208.37 (21.98) Prevent
Picture Naming 9.64 (0.76) 9.32 (1.14) 9.74 (0.66)b 9.44 (0.75)b
Deterioration ↓ Prompts
in Picture during CTT
Figure Recall 10.08 (4.65)c 12.28 (4.88)c 11.48 (3.76) 12.22 (3.09) Naming
CTT Prompts 0.80 (1.00)d 0.48 (1.05)d 0.48 (0.85) 0.37 (0.56)
BBS 53.08 (3.97) 52.80 (3.65) 54.81 (1.67)e 53.70 (2.83)e Prevent
Means that significantly differ from each other (p < .05) are given the same superscript
Deterioration
Parametric (t-test, regression) or non-parametric tests (mann-whitney, wilcoxon-signed rank test) were used for analyses in Balance

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