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.
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.
fDepartment of Psychology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
gDepartment of Psychology, University of Alabama, Huntsville, AL
Reprint 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
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.
ABSTRACT