Brain Gaming for Older Adults with Cognitive Impairments: Lessons Learned from the Applied Cognition Geriatric Task Force (826649)

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

2:15 PM – 3:30 PM EST

Presenter(s)

Pallavi Sood, PT, PhD

Research Assistant
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Hannes Devos, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas

Presentation Slides Handouts
Ahmed Negm, MD, MSc, PhD

Postdoctoral fellow
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Sandra L. Kletzel, PhD

Clinical Research Scientist
Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital
Hines, Illinois

Moderator(s)

Shilpa Krishnan, PT, PhD

Assistant Professor
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

There is great interest in the effectiveness of cognitive training, particularly brain gaming, for both healthy people as well as those with cognitive impairment. Brain gaming has been heavily promoted as a low-cost, effective tool to maintain cognitive health. However, there is a need to validate those claims in the scientific literature. The Geriatric Workgroup from the ACRM Measurement Networking Group (MNG) Applied Cognition Task Force (ACTF) conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of brain gaming on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. In this symposium, the workgroup will report on the findings from our systematic review and meta-analysis. We will also discuss future directions of research and gauge interest of current and future members to participate in our activities.

Learning Objectives:

Describe current brain gaming technologies used to study brain training in older adults with cognitive impairment.
Identify the strengths and weakness in the study design of published studies related to brain gaming in older people with MCI or dementia.
Critically evaluate the evidence that supports the use of brain gaming to improve cognitive function in older people with MCI or dementia with the goal to effectively guide clinical practice.