Abstract
Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) encompasses a range of cognitive deficits attributed to cerebrovascular disease, varying from minor cognitive disruptions to dementia. Innovative technological approaches, such as computerized cognitive retraining, offer promising strategies for mitigating the cognitive challenges faced by individuals with VCI. Despite their potential, the impact of these interventions on neuropsychological function and daily living capabilities has poor outcomes. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), the effectiveness of a 4-week, remotely-delivered, multi-domain, computer-adaptive cognitive retraining (CACT) was assessed in a cohort of 62 VCI patients. Employing an active control research design, participants were randomly allocated to either an Experimental group, which underwent the CACT program tailored to individual performance levels, or a control group that received standard care. The evaluation focused on neuropsychological functions such as attention, memory, and executive processes, alongside daily living skills. Results indicated that participants in the CACT group exhibited notable improvements in several cognitive areas, including processing speed, category fluency, and visual confrontation naming, when compared to the control group. Nonetheless, enhancements in functional abilities, encompassing basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL), were minimal, with no significant changes reported post-intervention. This study proposes that extended periods of adaptive cognitive training might lead to more substantial improvements following CACT.