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Updated: Dec 2, 2025
Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
Randomized trial of a patient empowerment and cognitive training program for older people with diabetes mellitus and
Chit-Wai Wong1, Wai-Tsun William O2, Kin-Wai Shirley Wong3
1Department of Medicine & Geriatrics, Caritas Medical Centre, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong.
Aim:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined patient empowerment program (PEP) and cognitive training (CT) program on improving glycemic control among older subjects with diabetes and cognitive impairment.
Methods:
A prospective single blinded, randomized controlled study was carried out in 139 older patients with diabetes aged ≥65 years with memory complaints and recent glycosylated hemoglobin level of 7-9%. They were randomly assigned to either undergo once-weekly PEP combined with CT for 10 weeks (intervention group, N = 73) or receive no intervention (control group, N = 66). All participants were followed up at months 4 and 12 to examine the immediate and long-term effects on glycemic control, cognition, mood and compliance to drug and diabetes self-management.
Results:
The intervention did not significantly reduce glycosylated hemoglobin. The intervention group showed significant progressive improvement in memory over 1 year and executive function improved significantly at month 12. There was no significant change in diabetes self-management activities with the intervention.
Conclusions:
Combination of PEP and CT did not improve glycemic control or self-care activities in older patients with diabetes and memory complaints but was effective in improving cognitive function in the longer term. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 1164-1170.
