TY  - JOUR
A1  - Weicker, Juliane
A1  - Hudl, Nicole
A1  - Frisch, Stefan
A1  - Lepsien, Jöran
A1  - Mueller, Karsten
A1  - Villringer, Arno
A1  - Thöne-Otto, Angelika
T1  - WOME : theory-based working memory training — a placebo-controlled, double-blind evaluation in older adults
T2  - Frontiers in aging neuroscience
N2  - Background: Scientifically evaluated cognitive intervention programs are essential to meet the demands of our increasingly aging society. Currently, one of the “hottest” topics in the field is the improvement of working memory function and its potential impact on overall cognition. The present study evaluated the efficacy of WOME (WOrking MEmory), a theory-based working memory training program, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized controlled trial (www.drks.de, DRKS00013162).
Methods: N = 60 healthy older adults were allocated to (1) the WOME intervention, (2) an active low-level intervention, or (3) a passive control group. Overall, the intervention groups practiced twelve sessions of 45 min within 4 weeks of their respective training. Transfer effects were measured via an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests and questionnaires both pre-/post-training and at a 3-month follow-up.
Results: WOME led to a significant improvement in working memory function, demonstrated on a non-trained near transfer task and on two different composite scores with moderate to large effect sizes. In addition, we found some indication of relevant impact on everyday life. The effects were short-term rather than stable, being substantially diminished at follow-up with only little evidence suggesting long-term maintenance. No transfer effects on other cognitive functions were observed.
Conclusion: WOME is an appropriate and efficient intervention specifically targeting the working memory system in healthy older adults.
Trial Registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), Identifier: DRKS00013162.
KW  - working memory training
KW  - cognitive training
KW  - plasticity
KW  - aging
KW  - neuropsychology
KW  - rehabilitation
KW  - cognitive decline
KW  - mild cognitive impairment
Y1  - 2018
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/47735
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-477351
SN  - 1663-4365
N1  - Copyright © 2018 Weicker, Hudl, Frisch, Lepsien, Mueller, Villringer and Thöne-Otto. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
VL  - 10
IS  - Art. 247
SP  - 1
EP  - 14
PB  - Frontiers Research Foundation
CY  - Lausanne
ER  -