초록/요약

BACKGROUND: Cognitive intervention (CI) has been known to improve cognition and to delay cognitive decline in patients with dementia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of our newly developed, robot-based CI for 12 weeks on brain function and cognitive performance in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD). METHODS: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in 37 patients with ADD. ADD patients met the criteria proposed by the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA). Mild dementia was determined if global clinical dementia rating of the patients was 0.5 or 1. All participants were randomized into the two groups: the home based cognitive intervention with robot (Robot) and waitlist control without cognitive intervention (control). A total of 20 cognitive training programs were settled in the robot, which targeted training for specific cognitive domains including attention, memory, visuospatial, calculation, language and frontal executive functions. The robot-based cognitive intervention comprised 60-min-session per day for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the changes in brain function measured by resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) with a 19-channel wireless EEG device. The secondary outcome was the changes of cognitive function measured using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. RESULTS: There were no baseline demographic and clinical differences between the two groups. EEG analysis after 12-week cognitive intervention showed decreased theta wave on the frontal areas in the Robot group, while increased theta wave on the frontal areas in the control group. In addition, Robot group also demonstrated improvement in the attention domain compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Given that increased theta wave on the frontal areas is associated with cognitive decline, our results suggest that 12-week robot based cognitive intervention could help improve brain function and attention in patients with mild ADD. © 2021 the Alzheimer's Association.