Impact of Chatbot-Based Cognitive Training on Cognitive Function and White Matter Integrity in Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial.

In 30 seconds

This single-blind randomized controlled trial evaluated chatbot-based cognitive training in 72 cognitively unimpaired older adults. Participants received training for 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week for 12 weeks, or no intervention. At 12 weeks, the training group had significantly less fractional anisotropy reduction than controls in the bilateral tapetum and right posterior thalamic radiation (false discovery rate controlled, P<.05), and improved on Paired Associates Learning (P=.04). Memory improvement was associated with fractional anisotropy change in two white matter pathways. The findings suggest possible cognitive and white matter benefits, but do not establish effects beyond the study period.

Key findings

• Training was associated with less fractional anisotropy reduction than control in the bilateral tapetum and right posterior thalamic radiation (false discovery rate controlled, P<.05).
• The training group improved on Paired Associates Learning, an episodic memory measure (P=.04).
• Paired Associates Learning improvement was positively associated with fractional anisotropy change in the right posterior thalamic radiation and right sagittal stratum (false discovery rate-adjusted P=.04 for each).

Why it matters

The trial provides evidence that an accessible chatbot-based program may support episodic memory and relative maintenance of white matter microstructural organization in cognitively unimpaired older adults. The neuroimaging findings complement the cognitive outcome, while the observed associations do not establish that white matter changes caused memory improvement.

What to keep in mind

The trial included 72 participants and compared training with no intervention; the abstract reports outcomes only at 12 weeks, so longer-term effects are unknown.