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A tablet for healthy ageing: the effect of a tablet computer training intervention on cognitive abilities in older adults
Vaportzis, Ria Martin, M. Gow, A.J.
Vaportzis, Ria
Martin, M.
Gow, A.J.
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Publication Date
2017-08
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© 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
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2016-11-23
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Vaportzis_AJGP_2017.pdf
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Abstract
Here�s your text with the corrupted characters corrected and the writing smoothed for clarity, while keeping the academic and scientific tone fully intact:
Objective: To test the efficacy of a tablet?computer training intervention designed to improve the cognitive abilities of older adults.
Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial.
Setting: Community?based ageing intervention study, Edinburgh, UK.
Participants: Forty?eight healthy older adults aged 65 to 76 years with no or minimal prior tablet experience were recruited at baseline; 43 completed follow?up testing.
Intervention: Twenty?two participants attended a weekly 2?hour class for 10 weeks in which they learned how to use a tablet and various applications.
Measurements: A battery of cognitive tests from the WAIS?IV assessing Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Processing, Working Memory and Processing Speed, along with measures of health, psychological functioning and well?being.
Results: A 2 � 2 mixed?model ANOVA indicated that the tablet?training group (N = 22) showed greater improvements in Processing Speed (?� = 0.10) compared with controls (N = 21). No significant differences were found for Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Processing or Working Memory (?� ranged from ?0.03 to 0.04).
Conclusions: Engagement in a new, mentally challenging activity�tablet training�was associated with improved processing speed. Acquiring new skills in later life, including those related to adopting new technologies, may help reduce or delay cognitive changes associated with ageing. Understanding how these skills support everyday functioning and enhance older adults� quality of life remains an important area for further research.
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Citation
Vaportzis E, Martin M and Gow AJ (2017) A tablet for healthy ageing: the effect of a tablet computer training intervention on cognitive abilities in older adults. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 25(8): 841-851.
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