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

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Aging
• Interventions: Other: Different group activities; Behavioral: Training

• Registration Number: NCT02897102
• Lead Sponsor: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Brief Summary

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.

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 Timeline

• Study Start: 2013-04
• Primary Completion: 2013-11
• Study Completion: 2013-11
• Study First Submitted: 2016-08-18
• Status Verified: 2016-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-09-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-09-06
• Study First Posted: 2016-09-13
• Last Update Posted: 2016-09-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 88

Inclusion Criteria

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

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Exclusion Criteria

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

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Control group	Different group activities	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.
Training group	Training	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.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Executive function score change	After 7 month	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
Working memory score change	After 7 month	Working memory score change will be measured using the average of the Z-scores of the Cogstate One Back and Two Back tasks
Attention score change	After 7 month	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
Speed of processing score change	After 7 month	Speed of processing score change will be measured using the Z-score of the Cogstate Detection Task
Reasoning score change	After 7 month	Reasoning score change will be measured using the Z-score of Matrix Reasoning subtest of the BETA III
Verbal learning and memory score change	After 7 month	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
Visual learning and memory score change	After 7 month	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

Secondary Outcome Measures

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