Cognitive and Neural Effects of Vision-Based Speed-of-Processing Training in Older Adults with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the cognitive and neural effects of vision-based speed-of-processing (VSOP) training in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and contrast those effects with an active control (mental leisure activities (MLA)).

Design: Randomized single-blind controlled pilot trial.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Participants: Individuals with aMCI (N = 21).

Intervention: Six-week computerized VSOP training.

Measurements: Multiple cognitive processing measures, instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and two resting state neural networks regulating cognitive processing: central executive network (CEN) and default mode network (DMN).

Results: VSOP training led to significantly greater improvements in trained (processing speed and attention: F1,19 = 6.61, partial η(2) = 0.26, P = .02) and untrained (working memory: F1,19 = 7.33, partial η(2) = 0.28, P = .01; IADLs: F1,19 = 5.16, partial η(2) = 0.21, P = .03) cognitive domains than MLA and protective maintenance in DMN (F1, 9 = 14.63, partial η(2) = 0.62, P = .004). VSOP training, but not MLA, resulted in a significant improvement in CEN connectivity (Z = -2.37, P = .02).

Conclusion: Target and transfer effects of VSOP training were identified, and links between VSOP training and two neural networks associated with aMCI were found. These findings highlight the potential of VSOP training to slow cognitive decline in individuals with aMCI. Further delineation of mechanisms underlying VSOP-induced plasticity is necessary to understand in which populations and under what conditions such training may be most effective.

Keywords: central executive network; default mode network; mild cognitive impairment; speed of processing.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The editor in chief has reviewed the conflict of interest checklist provided by the authors and has determined that the authors have no financial or any other kind of personal conflicts with this paper.

© 2016, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2016, The American Geriatrics Society.

Figures

Figure 1

Effects of VSOP training and MLA control training on a range of cognitive and neural domains. A. Effects of training on UFOV, the trained domain for VSOP training; B. Effects of training on transfer domains: working memory, IADL, verbal fluency, and cognitive control; C. Effects of training on neural domains: resting state neural connectivity for CEN and DMN; inserts show horizontal brain slices that include key ROIs for each network (IFG = inferior frontal gyrus, ACC = anterior cingulate cortex, PCC = posterior cingulate cortex). Note. Higher scores indicated better outcome; Lower scores indicated better outcome. Within-group (Baseline vs. Post-training) comparison: * p < .05, ** p < .01. Group (VSOP vs. MLA) by time (Baseline vs. Post-training) comparison: × p < .05.