Cognitive benefits of the attentional vs exergame training in older adults

Abstract

Objective

The present study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of an Attentional Computerized Cognitive Training and a commercial Exergame Training.

Methods

Eighty-four healthy older adults took part in the study. They were randomly assigned to one of the following conditions: Attentional Computerized Cognitive Training (ATT-CCT), Exergame Training (EXERG-T), or passive Control Group (CG). Participants assigned to the experimental groups underwent 8 laboratory-based sessions—lasting approximately 45 min each—of the respective training activity. A battery of cognitive tests was assessed before, after, and 3 months following the intervention phase.

Results

The results showed that just the ATT-CCT improved participants’ performance, specifically within attention, processing speed, verbal learning and memory. While both intervention groups revealed improved memory self-perception and decreased self-reported absent-mindedness, only the benefits following the ATT-CCT proved to be stable over time.

Conclusions

The results suggested that our ATT-CCT may be an effective tool for enhancing cognitive abilities in older healthy adults.

Keywords:

• Attentional computerized training
• exergame
• cognitive training
• aging

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, we would like to thank all participants for their kindness. Furthermore, we would thank the ‘Ufficio Attività Creative per la terza età’ (Service for the Elderly of the Municipality of Padova) who courteously and actively promoted the current study. To conclude, thanks to the trainees of the Department of General Psychology of the University of Padova who contributed to the data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.