Abstract
Objectives: Several studies suggest that the human ability to rapidly and accurately switch between tasks multiple times and to focus attention on the currently relevant response set employs working memory capacity. This ability decreases with age and that’s why older people have great difficulty in dual-task performance and TMT part B tests. Moreover, TMT-B has been proven to be a single predictor to predict dementia. We hypothesized that Dual Task Switching Working Memory Training (Dual Task-SWMT) where both motor and cognitive task requires working memory might improve not only task-switching ability but also the working memory capacity in healthy older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the benefits Dual Task-SWMT on cognitive functions specially in the working memory capacity in healthy subjects
Methods: The study subjects were 50 healthy adults, 21 men and 29 women, aged ≥ 73 years, cognitive status screened (MMSE>25). We proposed them to perform Dual Task-Switching Working Memory Training that we have created one hour twice a week for 24 weeks. At the beginning and at the end of treatment, participants received a cognitive assessment that included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Forward and Backward Digit Span Test, Rey’s Auditory Verbal Learning test, TMT-A, TMT-B.
Results: The cognitive assessment showed statistically significant improvement in all the scores tested (t-test performed), including the TMT-B (p<0.05).
Conclusions: These findings indicate that Dual Dual Task-SWMT where both motor and cognitive task requires working memory may serve as an efficient way to improve cognitive performance on healthy adults.