title: Efficacy of memory training in healthy community-dwelling older people: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is limited evidence on the efficacy and social utility of cognitive training. To address this, we have designed a randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of memory training workshops for healthy older people in terms of their short- and long-term impact on cognitive function, health-related quality of life, and functionality.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial will be performed in health care centers in Barcelona (Spain) through comparison of a group of individuals participating in memory training workshops (experimental group) with another group with similar characteristics not participating in the workshops (control group). The intervention will consist of twelve 90-minute group sessions imparted once a week by a psychologist specialized in memory training. The groups will each comprise approximately 15 people, for a total number of 230 patients involved in the study. Each session has its own objectives, materials and activities. The content of the intervention is based on memory training from different perspectives, including cognitive and emotional aspects and social and individual skills. Data will be collected at baseline, at 3-4 months and at 6 months. To assess the efficacy of the intervention on cognitive function, health-related quality of life and functionality, a statistical analysis will be performed by fitting a repeated-measures mixed effects model for each main outcome: Self-perceived memory, measured by a Subjective Self-reported Memory Score (from 0 to 10) and by the Memory Failures in Everyday life questionnaire (MFE); Everyday memory, measured using the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test-3 (RBMT-3) and Executive control abilities, measured in terms of visual-perceptual ability, working memory and task-switching ability with the Trail Making Test (TMT) and with the digit span scale of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III (WAIS III).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study will be highly useful for social and public health policies related to older people. Given the continuous increase in the prevalence of older people, a large number of interventions targeting memory loss are funded by public resources. To ensure transparency and effective prioritization, research such as the present study is needed to provide evidence of the effectiveness and usefulness of these interventions.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Number: NCT02431182 .
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Púbica de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl Lesseps, Barcelona, 1 (08023), Spain. aperez@aspb.cat.|Ciber de Epiedmiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), C/ Melchor Fernández, Almagro, Madrid, 3-5 (28029), Spain. aperez@aspb.cat.|Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica (IIB Sant Pau), C/ Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, 167 (08025), Spain. aperez@aspb.cat.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica (IIB Sant Pau), C/ Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, 167 (08025), Spain. Marta.Roque@uab.cat.|Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, C/ Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, 167 (08025), Spain. Marta.Roque@uab.cat.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roqué
authors.affiliation: Institut de l'Envelliment, C/ Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, 171 (08041), Spain. Sara.Domenech@uab.cat.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Domènech
authors.affiliation: Equip d'Atenció Primària Sardenya, C/ de Sardenya, Barcelona, 466 (08025), Spain. rmonteserin@eapsardenya.cat.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monteserín
authors.affiliation: Equip d'Atenció Primària Sardenya, C/ de Sardenya, Barcelona, 466 (08025), Spain. NUSORIANO@clinic.ub.es.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Atenció Primària Roquetes-Canteres, C/ Garigliano, Barcelona, 23 (08042), Spain. xblancafort.bcn.ics@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Blancafort
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Atenció Primària Sant Rafael, Pg. de la Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, 107-117 (08035), Spain. mbosom.bcn.ics@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bosom
authors.affiliation: Fundació Pere Tarrés, C/ Numància, Barcelona, 149-151 (08029), Spain. cristinavidal.vm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Púbica de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl Lesseps, Barcelona, 1 (08023), Spain. mpetitca@bcn.cat.
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Púbica de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl Lesseps, Barcelona, 1 (08023), Spain. nhortal@bcn.cat.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hortal
authors.affiliation: Departament de Gent Gran Ajuntament de Barcelona, C/ València, Barcelona, 344 (08009), Spain. cgilm@bcn.cat.
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Púbica de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl Lesseps, Barcelona, 1 (08023), Spain. aespelt@aspb.cat.|Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica (IIB Sant Pau), C/ Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, 167 (08025), Spain. aespelt@aspb.cat.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Espelt
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Púbica de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl Lesseps, Barcelona, 1 (08023), Spain. mjlopez@aspb.cat.|Ciber de Epiedmiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), C/ Melchor Fernández, Almagro, Madrid, 3-5 (28029), Spain. mjlopez@aspb.cat.|Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica (IIB Sant Pau), C/ Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Barcelona, 167 (08025), Spain. mjlopez@aspb.cat.|Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) (Experimental and Health Sciences Department, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona (Spain)), C/ Doctor Aiguader, Barcelona, 88 (08003), Spain. mjlopez@aspb.cat.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: López
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology*; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome