Article

This study evaluated the efficacy of a cognitive intervention for attentional
control in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with an executive
deficit. It also sought to verify if the benefits of training generalised to
primary and secondary outcome measures. Participants (n = 24) were randomly
assigned to a training programme or active control condition. The experimental
group completed a computer-based training programme involving Variable Priority
(VP) coordination of both components of a dual task, to which was added a
self-regulatory strategy designed to augment meta-cognition. The active control
group performed Fixed Priority (FP) training: rote practice of the same dual task
involving a visual detection task combined with an alpha-arithmetic task. Six
one-hour training sessions were held three times a week for two weeks.
Participants were tested pre- and post-training to detect improvement and
transfer effects. Both groups improved on the visual detection and
alpha-arithmetic tasks completed in focused attention, but only participants
receiving VP training significantly improved their dual-task cost in accuracy for
the visual detection task. As for transfer effects, both FP and VP training
produced improvements on select outcome measures: focused attention, speed of
processing, and switching abilities. No reliable advantage for generalisability
of VP over FP training was found. Overall, these findings indicate that cognitive
intervention may improve attentional control in persons with MCI and an executive
deficit.

Langue : ANGLAIS