The effect of Multi domain cognitive training on Cognitive impairment and Dementia in Blinds

As mentioned, the intervention covered a broad range of cognitive domains with tasks that involved reasoning, memory, visuospatial skills, and attention. The cognitive training program was developed by the Foundation University School of Science and Technology. The intervention was carried out at the Government Institute. The whole intervention comprised of a training session delivered once. The session included tasks that focused on cognitive domains. The cognitive training program covered the domains of memory (e.g., memorizing pictures and words, adapted from the word learning test and digit span test). Each task contained 3–5 different levels of difficulty, with 4 trials in each difficulty level. If a participant answered correctly in four or more trials, the difficulty level would be increased; conversely, if a participant answered incorrectly in more than two trials, the difficulty level in the next trial would be decreased.

2023-12-01

2023-12-31

The study assessed cognition both at the baseline and after the intervention. Based on a survey of neuropsychological assessment, this study designed a cognitive test that examined memory, reasoning, visuospatial ability, attention, processing speed, and executive functioning. The individual tests are listed below. Global cognition was assessed via the MMSE (Folstein et al., 1975) and Cognitive test. The Cognitive test is further divided into 5 task such as Block design, Object assembly, pattern recognition, Labyrinth, Card arrangement.

The study assessed cognition both at the baseline and after the intervention. Based on a survey of neuropsychological assessment, this study designed a cognitive test that examined memory, reasoning, visuospatial ability, attention, processing speed, and executive functioning. The individual tests are listed below. Global cognition was assessed via the MMSE (Folstein et al., 1975) and Cognitive test. The Cognitive test is further divided into 5 task such as Block design, Object assembly, pattern recognition, Labyrinth, Card arrangement.

Dementia , Depression

Dementia Severity Rating Scale
The Dementia Severity Rating Scale is a 5-point scale used to characterize six domains of cognitive and functional performance applicable to Alzheimer disease and related dementias: Memory, Orientation, Judgment & Problem Solving, Community Affairs, Home & Hobbies, and Personal Care. The necessary information to make each rating is obtained through a semi structured interview of the patient and a reliable informant or collateral source.

Beck Depression Inventory:
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI, BDI-II), created by Dr. Aaron T. Beck, it’s a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory, one of the most widely used instruments for measuring the severity of depression. Its development marked a shift among health care professionals, who had until then viewed depression from a psychodynamic perspective, instead of it being rooted in the patient’s own thoughts.

The 72 item BCIT was administered by performing each task in a lab . Each participant was first asked to fill in a consent form and answer demographic questions before preceding to answering the BCIT. The BCIT was the first of a series of task to be perform by the participants. The remaining half item of task were always presented after the Multi domain cognitive training.

Randomization done at Government institute.

Unit of randomization is Blind school.

Yes

5 to 6 blind school.

60 pupils

30 blind student and 30 normal students