ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a cognitive training program based on a smart device application for the prevention and treatment of dementia and to verify its effectiveness. Methods: This study consisted of the development stages of a cognitive training program and a verification of its effectiveness. The developed program consisted of an application and a paper-based workbook. To verify the effectiveness, 60 subjects with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia were randomly assigned to two groups, and the changes in cognitive function, visual perception ability, and daily living ability were compared through a pre-post design. The two groups conducted a workbook-based common cognitive training program held 20 times a week. As a home program, the experimental group provided cognitive training using an application, and the control group provided cognitive training using a workbook for 20 min each day. Results: As a result of verifying the effectiveness, the experimental group showed significant changes in cognitive function (Seoul Verbal Learning Test-Eldery (SVLT-E), memory; Digit Span Test (DST), attention; Short-form Korean version Boston Naming Test (S-K-BNT), language ability; Korean-Color Word Stroop Test (K-CWST), executive function), visual perception ability (Motor-free Visual Perception Test-Vertical (MVPT-V)), and daily living ability (Korean Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (K-IADL)). In the control group, a significant difference was found in areas excluding attention, whereas the intervention of the experimental group was found to be more effective in comparing the amount of change between groups. Conclusion: In this study, an application-based cognitive training program that can be repeatedly applied at low cost was developed and its effectiveness was verified. In this way, it will be possible to provide a variety of occupational therapy interventions and expect positive effects on improvements of the cognitive function of the elderly within the community.