Effect of Tablet-Based Games on Executive Functions in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

NCT ID: NCT05468424

Last Updated: 2024-01-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 42 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-11-03
• Study Completion Date: 2024-06-24

Brief Summary

The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether a tablet-based role-playing game is more effective than tablet-based word or image puzzles at improving executive functions in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The secondary objective of this study is to investigate whether a tablet-based role-playing game will show higher levels of engagement (measured by time played) in older adults with mild cognitive impairment than tablet-based word or image puzzles.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to examine the use of tablet-based (iPad or android) video games as a means of improving executive functions in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (Petersen, Smith, Waring, et al., 1999). The worldwide rising average age of the population and increasing incidence of dementia has created an urgent need for the development of effective and engaging therapies to mitigate age- and dementia-related cognitive decline. Much evidence supports the use of cognitive therapies as a means of improving general cognition in older adults. Video games may offer benefits over traditional cognitive therapies as they are challenging and fun, provide frequent feedback which motivates and encourages user engagement, and are widely available at low cost on tablet devices. This study will be implemented as a single blinded randomized control trial structured as a 2 x 2 mixed design with one repeated factor (time: pre-training, post-training) and one between-subject factor (group: treatment, active control). Forty-two older adults with mild cognitive impairment will be randomly assigned to play either a role-playing game, or a selection of word or image puzzles, for 5 or more hours a week for a period of 8 weeks. Participants can have a study partner assist them in the study. A study partner can help the participant with using the tablet and navigating menu in the game, but cannot play the game along with the participant. Participants will be assessed pre and post training with the Cambridge Brain Sciences (www.cambridgebrainsciences.com) online battery of 12 cognitive tasks. These tasks are "based on well-established paradigms from the cognitive neuroscience literature, to measure planning, reasoning, attention, and working memory abilities" (Hampshire, Highfield, Parkin, et al., 2012, p. 1236).

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

FarmVille

tablet (iPad or android) based role-playing game (FarmVille)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

tablet (iPad or android) based role-playing game

Intervention Type: OTHER

The intervention is a tablet (iPad or android) based role-playing game called FarmVille. In FarmVille the player assumes the role of a farmer tasked with tending to crops and farm animals and using what is produced to craft goods which can be sold to expand the farm. The participant is required to play FarmVille for 5 or more hours a week for 8 weeks.

puzzle games

selection of tablet (iPad or android) based word puzzles (Word Search Ultimate and Word Cookies) and image puzzles (Flow Free and Jigsaw HD)

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

tablet (iPad or android) based word puzzles and image puzzles

Intervention Type: OTHER

This intervention is a selection of tablet (iPad or android) word puzzles and image puzzles. One word puzzle involves "word making" (i.e., making words from a set of random letters), and the other "word searching" (i.e., finding words on a grid of letters). One image puzzle is Flow Free, a game that requires the player to connect pairs of same coloured dots positioned on a grid ranging from 5x5 to 9x9. The other image puzzle is a jigsaw. The participant is required to play these games for 5 or more hours a week for 8 weeks.

Interventions

tablet (iPad or android) based role-playing game

The intervention is a tablet (iPad or android) based role-playing game called FarmVille. In FarmVille the player assumes the role of a farmer tasked with tending to crops and farm animals and using what is produced to craft goods which can be sold to expand the farm. The participant is required to play FarmVille for 5 or more hours a week for 8 weeks.

Intervention Type: OTHER

tablet (iPad or android) based word puzzles and image puzzles

This intervention is a selection of tablet (iPad or android) word puzzles and image puzzles. One word puzzle involves "word making" (i.e., making words from a set of random letters), and the other "word searching" (i.e., finding words on a grid of letters). One image puzzle is Flow Free, a game that requires the player to connect pairs of same coloured dots positioned on a grid ranging from 5x5 to 9x9. The other image puzzle is a jigsaw. The participant is required to play these games for 5 or more hours a week for 8 weeks.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 60 years of age or older
• fluent in English
• diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment
• normal or corrected hearing and vision
• can operate the touch screen on an iPad
• access to a tablet (iPad or android) for 8 weeks of the study

Exclusion Criteria

• have started taking memory medication in the last 3 months
• have experience in any of the tablet-based games included in the study

• Minimum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

John Puxty

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

John Puxty

Associate Professor, Chair of Geriatric Medicine

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

John Puxty, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Providence Care Hospital

Nicole Anderson, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Baycrest Academy

Locations

Providence Care Hospital

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Baycrest Academy

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Countries

Canada

References

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Other Identifiers

6035589

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id