Development and evaluation of home-based speed-of-processing training for older adults

To develop technical parameters for a videotape-based speed-of-processing training protocol, to evaluate the feasibility of self-administration (experiment 1), and to evaluate the protocol's effectiveness (experiment 2).

A feasibility study (experiment 1) and a pre-post, 4-arm, nonrandomized controlled trial (experiment 2).

University research center.

A population-based sample (37 men, 47 women; age range, 65-94y) (experiment 1). A population-based sample (age > or =65y) with no prior exposure to the Useful Field of View assessment or speed-of-processing training, no dementia or life-limiting illness, a Mini-Mental State Examination score of greater than 24, corrected far visual acuity of greater than or equal to 20/40, contrast sensitivity of greater than or equal to 1.50 log(10), and deficient processing speed (experiment 2). For experiment 2, 8 of 189 eligible people declined to participate. The final sample for this experiment included 100 men and 81 women (age range, 65-91y).

Eight to ten 1-hour cognitive training sessions.

Posttraining gains in processing speed.

Self-administration was feasible. Subjects who underwent home-based training improved their processing speed significantly more than either control group (F(3,146)=16.16, P<.001). Their gains were 74% as great as the gains of those who underwent trainer-facilitated speed-of-processing training.

People can improve their processing speed at home using readily available technology. Future research should explore the relation of these improvements to driving performance.