Instrumental activities of daily living performance after working memory training

Research Objectives: To determine the effect of working memory training on instrumental activities of daily living

Design: Experimental study - Clinical trial with follow up after a month

Setting: Instituto Neurologico de Colombia

Participants: 32 ischemic stroke participants

Interventions: Experimental intervention: Software Braining administered during 12 weeks (three times a week). High level of difficulty

Active Control intervention: Software Braining administered during 12 weeks (three times a week). Low level of difficulty

Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome: Instrumental activities of daily living
Secondary outcome: Working memory

Results: The active control group improved the capacity to use a telephone when comparing base line performance (2.0) (SD 2-3) to follow-up (3.0) (SD 3-3) d= 1,0.However the experimental group did not only improved the use of a telephone (2.0) (SD 2-3) to follow-up (3.0) (SD 3-3) d= 0.8 but also going out shopping (2.5) (SD 1-3) to follow-up (3.0) (SD 3-3) d= 0.6 and taking medications (2.0) (SD 1-2) to follow-up (3.0) (SD 2.7-3) d= 1.2

Conclusions: Instrumental activities can improve after working memory training however this far transfer effects can be improved by increasing the amount of training. On the other hand, this training is effective in ischemic stroke population and other populations should be assessed according to their particular features.

Author(s) Disclosures: None at this time