Interactive video gaming compared with health education in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a feasibility study

• Published in: International journal of geriatric psychiatry Vol. 29; no. 9; pp. 890 - 898
• Main Authors: Hughes, Tiffany F., Flatt, Jason D., Fu, Bo, Butters, Meryl A., Chang, Chung-Chou H., Ganguli, Mary
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hove Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2014; Psychology Press; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition - physiology; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Dysfunction - physiopathology; Cognitive Dysfunction - rehabilitation; cognitive intervention; cognitive performance; Computer & video games; Feasibility Studies; Female; Gait; General aspects; Geriatric psychiatry; Geriatrics; Health education; Health Education - methods; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; mild cognitive impairment; Neuropsychology; Older people; Patient Satisfaction; pilot study; Prevention and actions; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; randomized controlled trial; Social Behavior; Video Games; United States > US; Human; Cognitive disorder; Psychology; pilot study; Cognitive ability; Controlled therapeutic trial; Cognition; Health education; Randomized controlled trial; Video recording; Gerontology; Randomization; cognitive intervention; Clinical trial; mild cognitive impairment; Feasibility; cognitive performance; Elderly; Psychiatry; Computer aid; Comparative study; Geriatrics; randomized controlled trial
• ISSN: 0885-6230; 1099-1166; 1099-1166
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.4075

Objective We evaluated the feasibility of a trial of Wii interactive video gaming, and its potential efficacy at improving cognitive functioning compared with health education, in a community sample of older adults with neuropsychologically defined mild cognitive impairment. Methods Twenty older adults were equally randomized to either group‐based interactive video gaming or health education for 90 min each week for 24 weeks. Although the primary outcomes were related to study feasibility, we also explored the effect of the intervention on neuropsychological performance and other secondary outcomes. Results All 20 participants completed the intervention, and 18 attended at least 80% of the sessions. The majority (80%) of participants were “very much” satisfied with the intervention. Bowling was enjoyed by the most participants and was also rated the highest among the games for mental, social, and physical stimulation. We observed medium effect sizes for cognitive and physical functioning in favor of the interactive video gaming condition, but these effects were not statistically significant in this small sample. Conclusion Interactive video gaming is feasible for older adults with mild cognitive impairment, and medium effect sizes in favor of the Wii group warrant a larger efficacy trial. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.