Nouchi Rui, Saito Toshiki, Nouchi Haruka, Kawashima Ryuta
Creative Interdisciplinary Research Division, Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan; Department of Advanced Brain Science, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan; Human and Social Response Research Division, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan.
Department of Advanced Brain Science, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan.
Front Aging Neurosci. 2016 Dec 23;8:302. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00302. eCollection 2016.
Processing speed training using a 1-year intervention period improves cognitive functions and emotional states of elderly people. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether short-term processing speed training such as 4 weeks can benefit elderly people. This study was designed to investigate effects of 4 weeks of processing speed training on cognitive functions and emotional states of elderly people. We used a single-blinded randomized control trial (RCT). Seventy-two older adults were assigned randomly to two groups: a processing speed training game (PSTG) group and knowledge quiz training game (KQTG) group, an active control group. In PSTG, participants were asked to play PSTG (12 processing speed games) for 15 min, during five sessions per week, for 4 weeks. In the KQTG group, participants were asked to play KQTG (four knowledge quizzes) for 15 min, during five sessions per week, for 4 weeks. We measured several cognitive functions and emotional states before and after the 4 week intervention period. Our results revealed that PSTG improved performances in processing speed and inhibition compared to KQTG, but did not improve performance in reasoning, shifting, short term/working memory, and episodic memory. Moreover, PSTG reduced the depressive mood score as measured by the Profile of Mood State compared to KQTG during the 4 week intervention period, but did not change other emotional measures. This RCT first provided scientific evidence related to small acute benefits of 4 week PSTG on processing speed, inhibition, and depressive mood in healthy elderly people. We discuss possible mechanisms for improvements in processing speed and inhibition and reduction of the depressive mood. This trial was registered in The University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000022250).
为期1年的干预期进行处理速度训练可改善老年人的认知功能和情绪状态。然而，为期4周的短期处理速度训练是否能使老年人受益仍不明确。本研究旨在调查为期4周的处理速度训练对老年人认知功能和情绪状态的影响。我们采用了单盲随机对照试验（RCT）。72名老年人被随机分为两组：处理速度训练游戏（PSTG）组和知识问答训练游戏（KQTG）组，后者为积极对照组。在PSTG组中，参与者被要求每周进行5次，每次15分钟的PSTG（12个处理速度游戏），持续4周。在KQTG组中，参与者被要求每周进行5次，每次15分钟的KQTG（4个知识问答），持续4周。我们在4周的干预期前后测量了多项认知功能和情绪状态。我们的结果显示，与KQTG组相比，PSTG组在处理速度和抑制方面的表现有所改善，但在推理、转换、短期/工作记忆和情景记忆方面的表现没有改善。此外，在4周的干预期内，与KQTG组相比，PSTG组通过情绪状态量表测量的抑郁情绪得分有所降低，但其他情绪指标没有变化。这项RCT首次提供了科学证据，证明为期4周的PSTG对健康老年人的处理速度、抑制能力和抑郁情绪有微小的急性益处。我们讨论了处理速度和抑制能力改善以及抑郁情绪减轻的可能机制。该试验已在大学医院医学信息网络临床试验注册中心（UMIN000022250）注册。
