X-Message-Number: 27887
References: <>
From: David Stodolsky <>
Subject: Re: Maximizing the health of the aging brain
Date: Mon, 1 May 2006 12:47:23 +0200

On 30 Apr 2006, at 13:27, John de Rivaz wrote:

> I took a look at
> http://www.positscience.com/programs/buy.php
> and would suggest that anyone interested read this page first and  
> decide
> whether to spend any more time on the rest of their web site
> http://www.positscience.com


http://www.positscience.com/pdfs/mci_abstract.pdf

> Results: At baseline, subjects had a mean age of 75 years, 65% were
> men and the median (range) MMSE score was 27 (24-30). Demographic
> and cognitive measures did not differ at baseline. 5 intervention  
> and 4
> control subjects dropped out and were excluded. Groups did not  
> differ in
> mean change SD for RBANS total scores (3.1 7.1 vs. 0.3 8.3, p=0.32).
> On RBANS subcomponent scores, there was a suggestion of improved
> delayed memory in intervention subjects (5.8 13.8 vs. -2.3 11.1,
> p=0.08) and improved visuospatial function in control subjects  
> (-1.0 9.5
> vs. 7.6 15.2, p=0.07). Spatial span scores improved significantly in
> intervention subjects (1.6 2.9 vs. -0.9 1.6, p=0.003). Other measures
> did not differ significantly.


With a total of 13 tests, we need at least p<.0038 to reach an  
overall .05 level of significance. These results are at best  
marginally significant, cosidering the large drop-out rate (9 of 45).


> Conclusions/Relevance: Computer-based interventions may improve
> cognitive function in MCI patients. Larger trials are needed.



http://www3.parinc.com/products/product.aspx?Productid=RBANS

> The RBANS is a brief, individually administered test that helps  
> determine the neuropsychological status of adults ages 20-89 years  
> who have neurological injury or disease such as dementia, head  
> injury, or stroke.

The test does not seem to have been developed with normals in mind.

>
> The RBANS enables you to examine areas of cognitive functioning and  
> profile impairment across domains with 12 subtests, including: List  
> Learning, Story Memory, Figure Copy, Line Orientation, Digit Span,  
> Coding, Picture Naming, Semantic Fluency, List Recall, List  
> Recognition, Story Recall, and Figure Recall.




dss


David Stodolsky    Skype: davidstodolsky

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