A Semantic-Based Cognitive Training Programme on Everyday Activities: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study among Cognitively Healthy Older Adults.
Nikki Tulliani, Rosalind Bye, Michelle Bissett and 2 others
PMID 37664163WHAT IT FOUND
Nine healthy older adults found a nine-week app-based memory programme feasible and acceptable.
They rated the therapist-led sessions as highly effective but were less convinced by the self-administered iPad sessions. This was a feasibility test, not a trial of whether the programme improves memory.
Key findings
01Nine participants completed the study, with a retention rate of 81.81% and high attendance at therapist-led sessions (93.78%).
02Participants perceived the therapist-led sessions as fully effective for learning strategies, but rated the self-administered sessions lower (89%) and the app itself as less effective (67%).
03The study did not measure clinical outcomes or memory improvement; it only assessed whether the programme could be delivered and if participants liked it.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample was very small (n=9) and recruited from only two retirement villages, limiting generalisability. Participants were cognitively healthy, so the findings do not apply to people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or dementia, who are the primary target for such interventions. No control group was used. The study did not measure actual memory performance or IADL capability, only self-reported acceptability. Self-administered session completion was tracked via iPad logs, which may have included errors or repeated attempts, making the 'completion rate' data less reliable.
Declared interests
No specific conflicts of interest or funding sources are detailed in the provided text beyond the standard academic affiliation (Western Sydney University).
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high acceptability ratings as evidence that this programme improves memory or prevents decline. The study had no control group, no objective outcome measures, and a tiny sample of healthy adults. It only shows that nine people were willing to try the app and liked the therapist.