AUTHOR=Nouchi Rui , Taki Yasuyuki , Takeuchi Hikaru , Nozawa Takayuki , Sekiguchi Atsushi , Kawashima Ryuta 

TITLE=Reading Aloud and Solving Simple Arithmetic Calculation Intervention (Learning Therapy) Improves Inhibition, Verbal Episodic Memory, Focus Attention and Processing Speed in Healthy Elderly People: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2016

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00217

DOI=10.3389/fnhum.2016.00217

ISSN=1662-5161

ABSTRACT=Background
Previous reports have described that simple cognitive training using reading aloud and solving simple arithmetic calculations, so-called “learning therapy”, can improve executive functions and processing speed in the older adults. Nevertheless, it is not well-known whether learning therapy  improve  a wide range of cognitive functions or not. We investigated the beneficial effects of learning therapy on various cognitive functions in healthy older adults.
Methods
We used a single-blinded intervention with two groups (learning therapy group: LT and waiting list control group: WL). Sixty-four elderly were randomly assigned to LT or WL. In LT, participants performed reading Japanese aloud and solving simple calculations training tasks for 6 months. WL did not participate in the intervention. We measured several cognitive functions before and after 6 months intervention periods.
Results
Compared to WL, results revealed that LT improved inhibition performance in executive functions (Stroop: LT (Mean = 3.88) vs. WL (Mean = 1.22), adjusted p =.013 and reverse Stroop LT (Mean = 3.22) vs. WL (Mean = 1.59), adjusted p =.015), verbal episodic memory (logical memory: LT (Mean = 4.59) vs. WL (Mean = 2.47), adjusted p =.015), focus attention(D-CAT: LT (Mean = 2.09) vs. WL (Mean = -0.59), adjusted p =.010) and processing speed compared to the waiting list control group (digit symbol coding: LT (Mean = 5.00) vs. WL (Mean = 1.13), adjusted p =.015 and symbol search: LT (Mean = 3.47) vs. WL (Mean = 1.81), adjusted p =.014).
Discussion
This RCT can showed the benefit of learning therapy on inhibition of executive functions, verbal episodic memory, focus attention, and processing speed in healthy elderly people. Our results were discussed under overlapping hypothesis.
Trial registration
“This trial was registered in The University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000006998).”