Effects of a Training Program Based on Abacus and Other Activities in Healthy Older Adults

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a structured program, which was based on abacus training associated with other activities, administered as weekly group classes over a 7 month period in older adults.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Aging
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Different group activities; Behavioral: Training

Detailed Description

Cognitive stimulating activities are often recommended for older adults; however, little is known regarding the effects of these activities on cognition, motivation and quality of life in this population. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a structured program, which was based on abacus training associated with other activities, administered as weekly group classes over a 7 month period in older adults. Eighty-eight older adults were enrolled in an open-label controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of this training program on cognition, motivation and quality of life. Training had a significant effect over time; the training group maintained their level of performance on verbal learning and memory tasks, whereas the control group exhibited a significant decrease in performance from baseline to post-intervention. The subjects in the training group were more motivated to learn at study entry; however, the training had no significant effect on motivation or quality of life. Abacus training associated with other activities may benefit verbal learning and memory in older adults. Additional studies with longer follow-ups are necessary to determine whether the results of this training will have a positive effect on the lives of older adults.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 88
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 60 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 60 years
• Score ≥ 26 on the Mini-Mental State Examination
• Portuguese as a native language.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A neurological or serious medical condition that would prevent participation in the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Control group; The individuals in the control group chose to participate in different group activities: ballroom dancing (5 participants), belly dancing (4 participants), chorus (16 participants), Spanish classes (8 participants) and chorus and Spanish classes (6 participants). The activities were offered once per week in 2 hours classes for 35 weeks and were held between April and November of 2013.	Other: Different group activities; ballroom dancing (5 participants), belly dancing (4 participants), chorus (16 participants), Spanish classes (8 participants) and chorus and Spanish classes (6 participants).
Experimental: Training group; was offered in one weekly class for 2 hours for 35 weeks between April and November of 2013. The first 50 minutes were spent performing exercises with the abacus, with increasing difficulty. One or two of the following activities followed the abacus training: playing games, neurobic and group dynamics.	Behavioral: Training; Training program based on abacus and other activities

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Reasoning score change	Reasoning score change will be measured using the Z-score of Matrix Reasoning subtest of the BETA III	After 7 month
Attention score change	Attention score change will be measured using the average of the Z-scores of the Codes subtest of the BETA III and the Cogstate Identification Task	After 7 month
Speed of processing score change	Speed of processing score change will be measured using the Z-score of the Cogstate Detection Task	After 7 month
Working memory score change	Working memory score change will be measured using the average of the Z-scores of the Cogstate One Back and Two Back tasks	After 7 month
Verbal learning and memory score change	Verbal learning and memory score change will be measured using the average of the Z-scores of the Cogstate International Shopping List and International Shopping List - Delayed Recall tasks	After 7 month
Visual learning and memory score change	Visual learning and memory score change will be measured using the average of the Z-scores of the Cogstate Continuous Paired Associate Learning, One Card Learning and Groton Maze Learning Test - Delayed Recall tasks	After 7 month
Executive function score change	Executive function score change will be measured using the average of the Z-scores of the Cogstate Groton Maze Learning Test and Set Shifting Task	After 7 month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Motivation	Evaluated using the self-concept scales of cognitive competence and self-learning	After 7 months
Quality of life	Evaluated using the control, autonomy, self-realization, and pleasure scale (CASP-19)	After 7 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 18, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 6, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): September 13, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 13, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 6, 2016
• Last Verified: September 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 257651

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO