Effectiveness of the NeuronUp program in improving the cognitive performance in older adults

Abstract

Background: The application of new technologies for cognitive stimulation has increased in recent years, allowing interdisciplinary teams to work more efficiently, minimizing the costs and time of analysis, management, and design of activities, and improving the care of older adults. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a cognitive intervention carried out using a web platform (NeuronUp) in improving mild cognitive decline (orientation, reading, memory, and language) in institutionalized older adults as compared to traditional interventions using pencil and paper. Methods: The experimental design was applied on two randomly allocated participant groups. One group received the intervention through NeuronUp (55 participants), and the other group received it with pencil and paper (55 participants). For the user evaluation, the Abbreviated Barcelona Test (PIEN-TB), which was administered before and after the intervention, was used. Analyses of variance, covariance, multivariate analysis of variance, and covariance were performed on two groups (control and experimental) twice (pre- and post-intervention). Each cognitive measure was used as a dependent variable; the group was the fixed factor, and the pre-test scores and the educational levels were the covariates. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in all categories except for language. The NeuronUp program improved three of the four cognitive skills evaluated: orientation (F(3106) = 12.747, p = .001, d = 0.69) and reading (F(3106) = 9.195, p = .003, d = 0.59) with moderate effect sizes, and memory (F(3106) = 58.911, p = .001, d = 1.49) with a strong effect size. Conclusion: The NeuronUp program is effective in improving cognitive processes in older individuals; furthermore, implementing treatments with new technologies guided by specialized professionals may be beneficial.