Effects of SUDOKU Mind Activation & Revitalizing Training on Cognitive Function in People With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild Cognitive Impairment Clinical Trial

— SMART  

Official title:

New Wine in Old Bottle: the Effects of SUDOKU Mind Activation and Revitalizing Training (SMART) Program on Cognitive Function Among People With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04913857
• Other study ID #: SMART
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 15, 2020
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2023

Study information

• Verified date: January 2024
• Source: The University of Hong Kong
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study aims to implement a SUDOKU Mind Activation and Revitalization Training (SMART) Program to promote cognitive health among patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and the use of active mind strategy in preventing dementia among the older adults. The SMART Program consists of two components including, a community empowerment-educational campaign on active mind strategies for older adults, and a 24-week SUDOKU Training Programme for people with MCI.

Description:

This study aims to implement a SMART Program to promote cognitive health among patients with MCI, and the use of active mind strategy in preventing dementia among the older adults. The SMART Program consists of two components including, a community empowerment-educational campaign on active mind strategies for older adults, and a 24-week SUDOKU Training Programme for people with MCI.

The community empowerment-educational campaign will be conducted in the elderly care centres of the two collaborating non-governmental organizations, with the purpose of increasing the awareness of people aged 55 or above on the importance of maintaining an active mind and preventing age-related cognitive decline and dementia. The campaign will include cognitive screening, poster exhibition, booth exhibition and individual counselling.

The SUDOKU training program include a 12-week face-to-face training session and a 12-week facilitated self-practice. The face-to-face sessions aim at developing the skills of the participants in solving the SUDOKU using the T-code. The 12-week training program will be evenly divided into three modules of increasing difficulty, with consideration given to the suboptimal cognitive function of the participants with MCI. These modules are developed by the Co-investigator who has rich prior experience in teaching older adults on SUDOKU puzzle.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 262
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2023
• Est. primary completion date: October 31, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 55 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• People with MCI as defined by a score of 19-26 out of the 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in the general public and aged 55 or above.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Persons with dementia and communication problems will be excluded.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cognitive Dysfunction
• Mild Cognitive Impairment

Intervention

Behavioral:
• 24-week SUDOKU Training Programme
12-week face-to-face training session and a 12-week facilitated self-practice

Other:
• Control Arm (wait-list)
wait-list comparison group will receive the same program upon completion of the 6-month posttest evaluation on study outcomes

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Hong Kong	Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, United Christian Hospital	Hong Kong

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
The University of Hong Kong

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Hong Kong, 

References & Publications (15)

Brooker H, Wesnes KA, Ballard C, Hampshire A, Aarsland D, Khan Z, Stenton R, McCambridge L, Corbett A. An online investigation of the relationship between the frequency of word puzzle use and cognitive function in a large sample of older adults. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2019 Jul;34(7):921-931. doi: 10.1002/gps.5033. Epub 2019 May 16. — View Citation

Chu LW, Chiu KC, Hui SL, Yu GK, Tsui WJ, Lee PW. The reliability and validity of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) among the elderly Chinese in Hong Kong. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2000 Jul;29(4):474-85. — View Citation

Ding D, Zhao Q, Guo Q, Liang X, Luo J, Yu L, Zheng L, Hong Z; Shanghai Aging Study (SAS). Progression and predictors of mild cognitive impairment in Chinese elderly: A prospective follow-up in the Shanghai Aging Study. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2016 Apr 9;4:28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.dadm.2016.03.004. eCollection 2016. — View Citation

Ferreira N, Owen A, Mohan A, Corbett A, Ballard C. Associations between cognitively stimulating leisure activities, cognitive function and age-related cognitive decline. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015 Apr;30(4):422-30. doi: 10.1002/gps.4155. Epub 2014 Jul 3. — View Citation

Lam CL, Gandek B, Ren XS, Chan MS. Tests of scaling assumptions and construct validity of the Chinese (HK) version of the SF-36 Health Survey. J Clin Epidemiol. 1998 Nov;51(11):1139-47. doi: 10.1016/s0895-4356(98)00105-x. — View Citation

Lam LC, Tam CW, Lui VW, Chan WC, Chan SS, Wong S, Wong A, Tham MK, Ho KS, Chan WM, Chiu HF. Prevalence of very mild and mild dementia in community-dwelling older Chinese people in Hong Kong. Int Psychogeriatr. 2008 Feb;20(1):135-48. doi: 10.1017/S1041610207006199. Epub 2007 Sep 25. — View Citation

Lui VW, Lam LC, Chiu HF. Validation of a memory inventory for the assessment of awareness of memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease in Chinese elderly. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006 Oct;21(10):917-23. doi: 10.1002/gps.1580. — View Citation

Pillai JA, Hall CB, Dickson DW, Buschke H, Lipton RB, Verghese J. Association of crossword puzzle participation with memory decline in persons who develop dementia. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2011 Nov;17(6):1006-13. doi: 10.1017/S1355617711001111. — View Citation

Rabiee F. Focus-group interview and data analysis. Proc Nutr Soc. 2004 Nov;63(4):655-60. doi: 10.1079/pns2004399. — View Citation

Reuter-Lorenz PA, Park DC. How does it STAC up? Revisiting the scaffolding theory of aging and cognition. Neuropsychol Rev. 2014 Sep;24(3):355-70. doi: 10.1007/s11065-014-9270-9. Epub 2014 Aug 21. — View Citation

Schultz SA, Larson J, Oh J, Koscik R, Dowling MN, Gallagher CL, Carlsson CM, Rowley HA, Bendlin BB, Asthana S, Hermann BP, Johnson SC, Sager M, LaRue A, Okonkwo OC. Participation in cognitively-stimulating activities is associated with brain structure and cognitive function in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Brain Imaging Behav. 2015 Dec;9(4):729-36. doi: 10.1007/s11682-014-9329-5. — View Citation

Sherman DS, Mauser J, Nuno M, Sherzai D. The Efficacy of Cognitive Intervention in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): a Meta-Analysis of Outcomes on Neuropsychological Measures. Neuropsychol Rev. 2017 Dec;27(4):440-484. doi: 10.1007/s11065-017-9363-3. Epub 2017 Dec 27. — View Citation

Tardif S, Simard M. Cognitive stimulation programs in healthy elderly: a review. Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2011;2011:378934. doi: 10.4061/2011/378934. Epub 2011 Aug 15. — View Citation

Wirth M, Haase CM, Villeneuve S, Vogel J, Jagust WJ. Neuroprotective pathways: lifestyle activity, brain pathology, and cognition in cognitively normal older adults. Neurobiol Aging. 2014 Aug;35(8):1873-82. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.02.015. Epub 2014 Feb 20. — View Citation

Wu YT, Lee HY, Norton S, Chen C, Chen H, He C, Fleming J, Matthews FE, Brayne C. Prevalence studies of dementia in mainland china, Hong Kong and taiwan: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2013 Jun 11;8(6):e66252. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066252. Print 2013. — View Citation

* Note: There are 15 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Other	13-item satisfaction survey - for SMART Program	To evaluate the participant's satisfaction towards the Sudoku program including acceptability, applicability to promote brain health and psychosocial health, accessibility and level of support	12-week
Other	10-item satisfaction survey - for community empowerment-educational campaign	To evaluate the participant's satisfaction towards this service component	10-month
Primary	Cantonese version of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog)	To evaluate various domains of cognition	Baseline
Primary	Cantonese version of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog)	To evaluate various domains of cognition	12-week
Primary	Cantonese version of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog)	To evaluate various domains of cognition	24-week
Primary	The digit span-forward and backward test	To measure attention and working memory	Baseline
Primary	The digit span-forward and backward test	To measure attention and working memory	12-week
Primary	The digit span-forward and backward test	To measure attention and working memory	24-week
Primary	The list learning delayed recall test	To measure episodic memory	Baseline
Primary	The list learning delayed recall test	To measure episodic memory	12-week
Primary	The list learning delayed recall test	To measure episodic memory	24-week
Primary	Trail-Making Test Part A and B	To measure complex attention, executive function and task switching	Baseline
Primary	Trail-Making Test Part A and B	To measure complex attention, executive function and task switching	12-week
Primary	Trail-Making Test Part A and B	To measure complex attention, executive function and task switching	24-week
Secondary	Memory Inventory for Chinese	To evaluate the subjective memory impairment	Baseline
Secondary	Memory Inventory for Chinese	To evaluate the subjective memory impairment	12-week
Secondary	Memory Inventory for Chinese	To evaluate the subjective memory impairment	24-week
Secondary	The 36-item Chinese version of the Short Form 36 (SF-36)	To measure Health-related quality of life in the participants	Baseline
Secondary	The 36-item Chinese version of the Short Form 36 (SF-36)	To measure Health-related quality of life in the participants	24-week

External Links

•   Global Council on Brain Health. "Engaging your brain: GCBH recommendations on cognitively stimulating activities."
•   Lam J. Numbers add up for scores of seniors in Sudoku competition.