Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 87, Issue 6 , Pages 757-763, June 2006

Development and Evaluation of Home-Based Speed-of-Processing Training for Older Adults

Presented in part at the Gerontological Society of America, November 22, 2003, San Diego, CA.

  • Virginia G. Wadley, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Roybal Center for Translational Research on Aging and Mobility, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
    • Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
    • Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Virginia G. Wadley, PhD, UAB Center for Translational Research on Aging and Mobility, 1530 3rd Ave S, HMB 113, Birmingham, AL 35294-2100
    • ,
  • Rachel L. Benz

      Affiliations

    • Roybal Center for Translational Research on Aging and Mobility, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
    • Department of School of Nursing, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
    • Visual Awareness Inc, Birmingham, AL
    • ,
  • Karlene K. Ball, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Roybal Center for Translational Research on Aging and Mobility, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
    • Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
    • Visual Awareness Inc, Birmingham, AL
    • ,
  • Daniel L. Roenker, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Visual Awareness Inc, Birmingham, AL
    • Department of Psychology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
    • ,
  • Jerri D. Edwards, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Huntsville, AL
    • ,
  • David E. Vance, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Roybal Center for Translational Research on Aging and Mobility, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
    • Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Abstract 

Wadley VG, Benz RL, Ball KK, Roenker DL, Edwards JD, Vance DE. Development and evaluation of home-based speed-of-processing training for older adults.

Objectives

To develop technical parameters for a videotape-based speed-of-processing training protocol, to evaluate the feasibility of self-administration (experiment 1), and to evaluate the protocol’s effectiveness (experiment 2).

Design

A feasibility study (experiment 1) and a pre-post, 4-arm, nonrandomized controlled trial (experiment 2).

Setting

University research center.

Participants

A population-based sample (37 men, 47 women; age range, 65−94y) (experiment 1). A population-based sample (age ≥65y) with no prior exposure to the Useful Field of View assessment or speed-of-processing training, no dementia or life-limiting illness, a Mini-Mental State Examination score of greater than 24, corrected far visual acuity of greater than or equal to 20/40, contrast sensitivity of greater than or equal to 1.50 log10, and deficient processing speed (experiment 2). For experiment 2, 8 of 189 eligible people declined to participate. The final sample for this experiment included 100 men and 81 women (age range, 65−91y).

Interventions

Eight to ten 1-hour cognitive training sessions.

Main Outcome Measure

Posttraining gains in processing speed.

Results

Self-administration was feasible. Subjects who underwent home-based training improved their processing speed significantly more than either control group (F3,146=16.16, P<.001). Their gains were 74% as great as the gains of those who underwent trainer-facilitated speed-of-processing training.

Conclusions

People can improve their processing speed at home using readily available technology. Future research should explore the relation of these improvements to driving performance.

Key Words:  Elderly , Information processing, human , Rehabilitation , Training programs

 

 Supported by the National Institute on Aging (Small Business Innovation Research grant nos. R43/R44, AG182020).

 A commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has conferred or will confer a financial benefit upon the author or 1 or more of the authors. Ball and Roenker own stock in Visual Awareness Inc (VAI), Edwards, Ball, and Roenker are consultants to VAI, and Benz is an employee of VAI.

PII: S0003-9993(06)00176-6

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2006.02.027

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 87, Issue 6 , Pages 757-763, June 2006

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