Effect of memory impairment on training outcomes in ACTIVE

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Cognitive training is known to enhance mental abilities in older adults.
• The effectiveness of cognitive training for individuals with memory impairment remains uncertain.
• The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) trial provides a robust dataset to investigate this subgroup.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if older adults with memory impairment benefit from specific cognitive training interventions.
• To compare the trainability of memory-impaired versus memory-normal older adults across different cognitive domains.
• To explore the mediating role of memory function in response to cognitive interventions.

Main Methods:

• Subgroup analysis of 2802 participants (aged 65+) from the ACTIVE trial.
• Participants were categorized as memory-impaired (n=193) or memory-normal (n=2580) based on Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) scores.
• Mixed-effects models compared training gains (Memory, Reasoning, Speed-of-Processing) as a function of memory status over baseline, post-test, and 2-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• Memory-impaired participants did not show significant improvement from Memory training.
• Memory-impaired individuals demonstrated comparable training gains in reasoning and speed-of-processing tasks to memory-normal individuals.
• Results suggest that baseline memory function influences responsiveness to specific cognitive training types.

Conclusions:

• Memory impairment in older adults may limit benefits from targeted memory training.
• Reasoning and speed-of-processing training appear effective even in older adults with memory impairment.
• Cognitive interventions should consider individual memory status for optimal outcomes in aging populations.