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The Effect of Solving Jigsaw Puzzles on Visuospatial Cognition in Older Adults: Jigsaw Puzzles As Cognitive Enrichment

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Cognitive Impairment
Interventions
Behavioral: Jigsaw puzzles
Behavioral: Cognitive health counseling
Registration Number
NCT02667314
Lead Sponsor
University of Ulm
Brief Summary

Meta-analyses indicate beneficial effects of cognitive training and cognitively challenging video games on cognition. However, cognitive effects of solving jigsaw puzzles - a popular, visuospatial cognitive leisure activity - have not been investigated, yet. Thus, the primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of solving jigsaw puzzles on visuospatial cognition. As secondary aims, effects on psychological outcomes (self-efficacy, perceived stress, well-being) and visuospatial everyday functioning (instrumental activities of daily living and self-reported cognitive failures in everyday life) are examined.

Detailed Description

see References section below for the study protocol article

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • No cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination ≥ 24)
  • Commitment to minimum jigsaw puzzle time (1 hour/day, 6 days/week, 5 weeks)
  • Interest in jigsaw puzzles
  • Low jigsaw puzzle experience (less than 5 completed puzzles within the last 5 years)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination < 24)
  • Participation in another interventional study
  • Self-reported psychiatric, neurologic or other disease, which could affect cognitive change over time
  • Self-reported, severe visual impairment or motoric impairment of the upper extremity which significantly affects ability to solve jigsaw puzzles

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Jigsaw Puzzle GroupJigsaw puzzlesJigsaw puzzles \& Cognitive health counseling
Jigsaw Puzzle GroupCognitive health counselingJigsaw puzzles \& Cognitive health counseling
Cognitive Health Counseling GroupCognitive health counselingCognitive health counseling only
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in global visuospatial cognition from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

Averaged score of eight z-standardized visuospatial cognitive ability scores (see secondary outcomes 2 - 9)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in visuospatial processing speed from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

Trail Making Test A

Change in visuoconstruction from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

Copying in Complex Figure Tests; parallel versions for baseline and post-test

Change in visuospatial flexibility from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

Trail Making Test B

Change in visuospatial episodic memory from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

Recall in Complex Figure Tests (sum score of immediate and delayed recall); parallel versions for baseline and post-test

Change in psychological health from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

Averaged score of three z-standardized psychological health sub-scores (see secondary outcomes 11 - 13)

Change in psychological well-being from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

WHO-Five Well-being Index (WHO-5), German version

Change in self-reported everyday functioning from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

CFQ (visuospatial items): Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, sum score of visuo-spatial items; German version

Hair dehydroepiandrosteron concentration at the 1.5-year follow-up1.5-year follow-up

Hair dehydroepiandrosteron will be measured in 1cm segements

Change in visual perception from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

Judgment of Line Orientation Test

Change in mental rotation from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

Mental Rotations Test-Letters (2D) and Form A (3D)

Change in visuospatial working memory from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

Block span (Wechsler Memory Scale, German version)

Hair cortisol concentration at the 1.5-year follow-up1.5-year follow-up

Hair cortisol will be measured in 1cm segements

Change in visuospatial reasoning from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

Block design (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III, German version)

Change in self-efficacy from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

General Self-Efficacy Scale, German version

Change in perceived stress from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

Perceived Stress Scale-14, German translation

Change in objective everyday functioning from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

TIADL (1-3): Timed instrumental activities of daily living (Task 1-3; sum-score)

Change in jigsaw puzzle performance from baseline to post intervention and to the 1.5-year follow-upBaseline and post intervention (after 5 weeks and 1.5 years)

40-pieces mini puzzle (completed pieces per minute)

Neurocognitive disorder1.5-year follow-up

Neurocognitive disorder is a categorical outcome and includes mild and major neurocognitive disorders. Mild neurocognitive disorder (mild cognitive impairment) is defined by subjective cognitive decline (self-report), and an objective cognitive impairments in at least one cognitive abilitiy score (below -1 SD of the norm group), without an essential impairment of daily functioning compared to the premorbid level (self-report). In major neurocognitive decline (dementia), in addition to cognitive decline and impairment, daily functioning is essentially impaired compared to the permorbid level (self-report).

Hair brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentration at the 1.5-year follow-up1.5-year follow-up

Hair brain-derived neurotrophic factor will be measured in 1cm segements

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Clinical and Biological Psychology, University of Ulm

🇩🇪

Ulm, Germany

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