Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39501844›Full record

ArticleBJPsych open2024

Behavioural and neuronal substrates of serious game-based computerised cognitive training in cognitive decline: randomised controlled trial.

Esther Brill, Alexa Holfelder, Michael Falkner, Christine Krebs, Anna-Katharine Brem, Stefan Klöppel

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Article in BJPsych open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Esther BrillUniversity Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland; and Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine (SITEM), University of Bern, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2452-7697
Alexa HolfelderUniversity Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland; and Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine (SITEM), University of Bern, Switzerland.
Michael FalknerARTORG Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Christine KrebsUniversity Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Anna-Katharine BremUniversity Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland; and Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0295-6834
Stefan KlöppelUniversity Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland.

Funding

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung 32003B 189240
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInvestigations of computerised cognitive training (CCT) show heterogeneous results in slowing age-related cognitive decline.

aimsTo comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of serious games-based CCT, integrating control conditions, neurophysiological and blood-based biomarkers, and subjective measures.

methodIn this bi-centric randomised controlled trial with parallel groups, 160 participants (mean age 71.3 years) with cognitive impairment ranging from subjective decline to mild cognitive impairment, were pseudo-randomised to three arms: an intervention group receiving CCT immediately, an active control (watching documentaries) and a waitlist condition, which both started the CCT intervention after the control period. Both active arms entailed a 3-month intervention period comprising a total of 60 at-home sessions (five per week) and weekly on-site group meetings. In the intervention group, this was followed by additional 6 months of CCT, with monthly booster sessions to assess long-term training effects. Behavioural and subjective changes were assessed in 3-month intervals. Biological effects were measured by amyloid blood markers and magnetic resonance imaging obtained before and after training.

resultsAdherence to the training protocol was consistently high across groups and time points (4.87 sessions per week). Domain-specific cognitive scores showed no significant interaction between groups and time points. Significant cognitive and subjective improvements were observed after long-term training. Voxel-based morphometry revealed no significant changes in grey matter volume following CCT, nor did amyloid levels moderate its effectiveness.

conclusionsOur study demonstrates no benefits of 3 months of CCT on cognitive or biological outcomes. However, positive effects were observed subjectively and after long-term CCT, warranting the inclusion of CCT in multicomponent interventions.

Indexed as

Computerised cognitive trainingmild cognitive impairmentpatient-reported outcome measuressubjective cognitive declinevoxel-based morphometry

Identifiers

PMID39501844
PMCPMC11698156

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.