A low-cost cognitive rehabilitation with a commercial video game improves sustained attention and executive functions in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based cognitive rehabilitation (CR) program based on the video game Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DKBT; Nintendo, Japan), in improving attention, processing speed, and working memory of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).


METHODS
This was a randomized, wait-list control study. Patients with MS and failure in at least one between Stroop Test (ST), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) were submitted to an 8-week home-based CR program playing DKBT. Patients were evaluated at baseline and after DKBT by the aforementioned tests, by the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) and by the MS Quality of Life-54 questionnaire (MSQoL-54).


RESULTS
Fifty-two 52 patients were screened for eligibility; 35 (mean [standard deviation] age of 43.9 [8.4] years, median Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 2.0 (range = 2.0-6.0) were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 18) or wait-list control group (n = 17). ANCOVA analysis showed a significant effect of DKBT on ST (F = 5.027; P = .034; F(2) = 0.210), SDMT (F = 4.240; P = .049; F(2) = 0.177), and on some subscales of MSQoL-54. The PASAT and cognitive subscale of MFIS also showed an improvement, but this was just not significant (F = 4.104, P = .054, F(2) = 0.171, and F = 4.226, P = .054, F(2) = 0.237, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that a home-based DKBT program may improve cognitive functions, some aspects of QoL, and cognitive fatigue in patients with MS.
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy laura.degiglio@uniroma1.it.
Laura
L
De Giglio
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Francesca
F
De Luca
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Luca
L
Prosperini
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Giovanna
G
Borriello
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Valentina
V
Bianchi
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), Italy.
Patrizia
P
Pantano
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Carlo
C
Pozzilli
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
cognitive impairment; multiple sclerosis; neurorehabilitation