Effects of home-based manual dexterity training on cognitive function among older adults: a randomized controlled trial

･This study examined the effects of home-based manual dexterity training on cognitive function in older adults. We also assessed the cortical activation patterns (cognitive load) of the prefrontal cortex to quantify the cognitive load via a wearable device.
･The results confirmed that the higher the difficulty of the training, the greater the cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex, and among cognitive functions, executive function improved significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group. The training group also showed larger effect sizes for cognitive functions other than executive functions.
･Our study suggests that manual dexterity training can improve performance in a complex manual dexterity task and executive functioning in older adults.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of home-based manual dexterity training on cognitive function in older adults using a digital trail-making peg test device combining two conventional assessment tools namely, the peg and trail-making tests. For 12 weeks, 57 healthy older adults aged 65–88 years participated in a trial, wherein home-based manual dexterity training was performed for approximately 20 min daily. Cognitive function was assessed using the Stroop Color and Word and Cognitive Impairment Tests（which is also one of the tests required for driver license renewal among older adults in Japan. This test consists of three tasks: orientation to time, free and cued recall, and clock drawing. ）. Manual dexterity was assessed using the Purdue Pegboard Test. Only the intervention group showed a significant improvement in Stroop interference and an executive function and assembly task of the Purdue Pegboard Test. Additionally, except the clock drawing task, cognitive function had a larger effect size in the intervention group than in the control group. Our results suggest that home-based manual dexterity training can improve performance in a complex manual dexterity task and executive functioning in older adults.