Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2013 Dec;25(8 Suppl):65S-84S.
doi: 10.1177/0898264312470167.

Speed of processing training in the ACTIVE study: how much is needed and who benefits?

Karlene K Ball  1 , Lesley A Ross, David L Roth, Jerri D Edwards
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Speed of processing training in the ACTIVE study: how much is needed and who benefits?

Karlene K Ball et al. J Aging Health. 2013 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: Cognitive training has been shown to improve both cognitive and everyday abilities in older adults; however, little is known concerning the amount of training needed or the characteristics of those who benefit. These analyses examined the longitudinal impact of dosage (number of training sessions) on the improvement and maintenance of cognitive and everyday function.

Methods: ACTIVE is a longitudinal, randomized, single-blind clinical trial evaluating cognitive interventions in older adults (aged 65-94) from six states in the United States.

Results: Latent growth curve models indicated that initial training effects were maintained over 5 years and amplified by booster sessions. A single booster session counteracted 4.92 months of age-related processing speed decline.

Discussion: Cognitive performance improved by 2.5 standard deviations for participants who attended all 10 initial sessions and all 8 booster sessions compared to randomized participants who attended none. Implications for the broader application of cognitive training interventions are discussed.

Keywords: UFOV; activities of daily living; aging; cognitive training; driving.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: Dr. Ball owns stock in the Visual Awareness Research Group (formerly Visual Awareness, Inc.), and Posit Science, Inc., the companies that market the Useful Field of View Test and speed of processing training software (now called Insight). Posit Science acquired Visual Awareness, and Dr. Ball continues to collaborate on the design and testing of these assessment and training programs as a member of the Posit Science Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Edwards has worked as a consultant for Visual Awareness Research Group and Posit Science, Inc., the companies that market the Useful Field of View Test and speed of processing training software now called Insight. Drs. Ross and Roth have declared no potential conflicts with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Intent-to-Treat Analysis. Latent growth curve model of the intent-to-treat analysis of the effect of randomization to booster training on processing speed.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Treatment-Received Model
Latent growth curve model of the treatment-received model of the effect of initial training sessions and booster sessions on processing speed.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Model Predicted Scores
Model predicted scores of participants with no training, complete initial training only, and both initial training and booster training (which occurred prior to First and Third annual assessments).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ball D, Ball K, Miller R, Roenker D, White D, Griggs D. Bases for expanded functional visual fields as a result of practice. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science Supplement. 1988;27:111.
    1. Ball K, Berch DB, Helmers KF, Jobe JB, Leveck MD, Marsiske M, et al. Effects of cognitive training interventions with older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002;288(18):2271–2281. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ball K, Edwards JD, Ross LA. The impact of speed of processing training on cognitive and everyday functions. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2007;62:19–31. Spec No 1. - PubMed
    1. Ball K, Owsley C, Sloane ME, Roenker DL, Bruni JR. Visual attention problems as a predictor of vehicle crashes in older drivers. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 1993;34(11):3110–3123. - PubMed
    1. Ball KK, Edwards JD, Ross LA, McGwin G., Jr Cognitive training decreases risk of motor vehicle crash involvement among older drivers. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2010;58:2107–2113. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types