Effects of SUDOKU Mind Activation & Revitalizing Training on Cognitive Function in People With Mild Cognitive Impairment (SMART)

Effects of SUDOKU Mind Activation & Revitalizing Training on Cognitive Function in People With Mild Cognitive Impairment

New Wine in Old Bottle: the Effects of SUDOKU Mind Activation and Revitalizing Training (SMART) Program on Cognitive Function Among People With Mild Cognitive Impairment

This study aims to implement a SUDOKU Mind Activation and Revitalization Training (SMART) Program to promote cognitive health among patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and the use of active mind strategy in preventing dementia among the older adults. The SMART Program consists of two components including, a community empowerment-educational campaign on active mind strategies for older adults, and a 24-week SUDOKU Training Programme for people with MCI.

This study aims to implement a SMART Program to promote cognitive health among patients with MCI, and the use of active mind strategy in preventing dementia among the older adults. The SMART Program consists of two components including, a community empowerment-educational campaign on active mind strategies for older adults, and a 24-week SUDOKU Training Programme for people with MCI. The community empowerment-educational campaign will be conducted in the elderly care centres of the two collaborating non-governmental organizations, with the purpose of increasing the awareness of people aged 55 or above on the importance of maintaining an active mind and preventing age-related cognitive decline and dementia. The campaign will include cognitive screening, poster exhibition, booth exhibition and individual counselling. The SUDOKU training program include a 12-week face-to-face training session and a 12-week facilitated self-practice. The face-to-face sessions aim at developing the skills of the participants in solving the SUDOKU using the T-code. The 12-week training program will be evenly divided into three modules of increasing difficulty, with consideration given to the suboptimal cognitive function of the participants with MCI. These modules are developed by the Co-investigator who has rich prior experience in teaching older adults on SUDOKU puzzle.

To implement a SMART Program to promote cognitive health among patients with MCI, and the use of active mind strategy in preventing dementia among the older adults

The SUDOKU training program include a 12-week face-to-face training session and a 12-week facilitated self-practice. The 12-week (60-minute sessions) training program will be evenly divided into 3 modules of increasing difficulty for the suboptimal cognitive function of the participants with MCI. As the use of T-code in solving the SUDOKU allows communicating the way a number is assigned to a box, participants are grouped into a small team of 3, so that they will work together during the tutorial practice. Facilitated self-practice will last for another 12 weeks immediately after the group training session. The instructor will give them a workbook with 12 SUDOKU puzzles of increasing level of difficulty for completion. The instructor will encourage and facilitate their accomplishment by giving them guidance on the taught method through regular phone call. Solutions of the assigned puzzle and the T-code will be provided in the following week.

wait-list comparison group will receive the same program upon completion of the 6-month posttest evaluation on study outcomes

wait-list comparison group will receive the same program upon completion of the 6-month posttest evaluation on study outcomes

To evaluate the participant's satisfaction towards the Sudoku program including acceptability, applicability to promote brain health and psychosocial health, accessibility and level of support

Inclusion Criteria: People with MCI as defined by a score of 19-26 out of the 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in the general public and aged 55 or above. Exclusion Criteria: Persons with dementia and communication problems will be excluded.

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