Training executive control and multitasking abilities in older adults: training gains and transfer effects of an online pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Developing meaningful and effective cognition-oriented treatments to enhance cognition and dementia prevention is a major public health need. This online randomized controlled trial assessed the effects of a new web-based cognitive training platform, the Breakfast Game (BG), which simulates real-life executive control/multitasking demands. Participants were randomized into 1) experimental group: BG using the Emphasis Change (EmCh), a strategy to facilitate flexible attention allocation, or 2) active control group: BG without EmCh. Thirty-eight cognitively unimpaired older adults, highly educated (mean 16.4 years) and mostly White (78%), were included in the study. Participants underwent pre- and post-assessments with 12 intervention sessions, three times per week. The intent-to-treat approach and linear-mixed models were implemented, and all models controlled for baseline performance. Both groups improved the game performance over the sessions, but the EmCh presented significantly greater improvement. There were time-by-group interactions in the game metrics and near-transfer outcomes on multitasking and executive/attention control, indicating greater training gains and transfer effects in the EmCh group. There were no distant-transfer effects on self-efficacy, mood, or cognitive activities in daily life. The BG with the EmCh is a promising online intervention tool to promote cognitive health and enhance executive control / multitasking abilities in aging.