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.
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 = 0.013 and reverse Stroop LT (Mean = 3.22) vs. WL (Mean = 1.59), adjusted p = 0.015), verbal episodic memory (Logical Memory (LM): LT (Mean = 4.59) vs. WL (Mean = 2.47), adjusted p = 0.015), focus attention (D-CAT: LT (Mean = 2.09) vs. WL (Mean = -0.59), adjusted p = 0.010) and processing speed compared to the WL control group (digit symbol coding: LT (Mean = 5.00) vs. WL (Mean = 1.13), adjusted p = 0.015 and Symbol Search (SS): LT (Mean = 3.47) vs. WL (Mean = 1.81), adjusted p = 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This randomized controlled trial (RCT) can be showed the benefit of LT on inhibition of executive functions, verbal episodic memory, focus attention and processing speed in healthy elderly people. Our results were discussed under overlapping hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Creative Interdisciplinary Research Division, Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science (FRIS), Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan; Human and Social Response Research Division, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan; Smart Ageing International Research Centre, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nouchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan; Division of Medical Neuroimage Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan; Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taki
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.affiliation: Smart Ageing International Research Centre, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan; Department of Ubiquitous Sensing, PreClinical Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nozawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Neuroimage Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan; Department of Adult Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sekiguchi
authors.affiliation: Smart Ageing International Research Centre, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan; Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan; Department of Ubiquitous Sensing, PreClinical Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan; Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversitySendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kawashima
keywords: cognitive training; learning therapy; reading aloud; simple calculation; transfer effect