title: Computerized cognitive training during physical inactivity improves executive functioning in older adults.
abstract: The hippocampus is closely tied to spatial navigation, a central component in cognitive functioning, and critically involved in age-associated cognitive decline and dementia. This study evaluated a novel, cognitive computerized spatial navigation training (CSNT) program targeting the hippocampus, with expectation of mitigating possible cognitive decline with bed rest (BR). During a 14-day BR study with 16 healthy, older men (mean age = 60 ± 3, range = 55-65 years), half received CSNT for 12 days in 50-min sessions and half were controls (watching documentaries). This design uniquely controlled diet, sleep, and other personal and environmental activities. Although there were no cognitive declines in controls post-BR, CSNT participants demonstrated significant increases in executive/attention ability and processing speed, and continued spatial navigation testing showed improvement to 400 days post-BR. This intervention may prove useful to mitigate cognitive declines known to occur in long periods of immobilization and could have broader implications in protecting against age-related cognitive decline.
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Kinesiology Research, Science and Research Centre , University of Primorska , Koper , Slovenia.
authors.forename: Uros
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Marusic
authors.affiliation: b Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Psychology and School of Nursing , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giordani
authors.affiliation: c School of Psychology , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , GA , USA.
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Moffat
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Education , University of Primorska , Koper , Slovenia.
authors.forename: Mojca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrič
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Education , University of Primorska , Koper , Slovenia.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dolenc
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Kinesiology Research, Science and Research Centre , University of Primorska , Koper , Slovenia.
authors.forename: Rado
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pišot
authors.affiliation: e Institute of Gerontology , Wayne State University , Detroit , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Voyko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kavcic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001510:Bed Rest; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000517:prevention & control*; D056344:Executive Function; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D065854:Spatial Navigation; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Computerized spatial navigation training; aging; bed rest immobilization; transfer of learning; virtual maze navigation task