Two weeks of a computerized cognitive training may produce beneficial effects in alzheimer's disease patients

Citizens in an ageing World population are at higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia with considerable negative consequences for their autonomy and quality of life, that of those who care for them, and the sustainability of health and care systems. Thus, the need for strategies to avoid or delay the process of cognitive decline. Innovative ICT solutions should play a role in tertiary prevention of cognitive decline supporting active and healthy ageing and countering the cognitive decline in the elderly subjects. In this study, we tested whether a computerized cognitive training (CCT) with an application of serious games (computerized neuropsychological battery) may produce an improve of cognitive functions and beneficial enhancement of the resting state eyes-closed electroencephalographic (rsEEG) rhythms deranging typically in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Ten AD patients were enrolled and completed the 15 daily CCT sessions. Standard neuropsychological testing and rsEEG recordings were performed before and after the CCT program. eLORETA estimated the rsEEG cortical sources. Statistical results (p < 0.05) showed that the AD patients were characterized by increased performance scores (i.e. accuracy and reaction time) in the execution of the neuropsychological tasks after the CCT program. On the contrary, no statistical difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the rsEEG markers after the CCT program. These preliminary results suggest that the CCT program with this application of serious games may represent a useful and practical approach to slow down the cognitive decline in AD patients even if it has no effect on the cortical neural synchronization mechanisms of rsEEG, possibly because of the impaired integrity of the cholinergic system in these patients.