Effects of smartphone application‐based cognitive training at home on cognition in community‐dwelling non‐demented elderly individuals: A randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: We investigated whether cognitive function improves in elderly individuals after Application‐based Cognitive Training at Home (ACTH) for 12 months. METHODS: A total of 389 non‐demented elderly volunteers aged over 60 years were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention group underwent daily ACTH (with regular feedback from the administrator) and monthly offline cognitive training in groups for 12 months. All participants received a computerized cognitive test battery called Inbrain Cognitive Screening Test (Inbrain‐CST) at baseline and 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was the change in the total composite score of Inbrain‐CST, and secondary outcomes included changes in composite scores in five cognitive domains of Inbrain‐CST. RESULTS: The intervention group outperformed the control group in terms of the total score (P = .001) and subscores of language (P < .001) and memory (P < .001) domains at 12 months. DISCUSSION: ACTH improved global cognition in community‐dwelling non‐demented elderly individuals.