Effects of Single and Dual Task Training in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment

The Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) will be used to assess selective attention. SCWT is a neuropsychological test extensively used for both experimental and clinical purposes. It assesses the ability to inhibit cognitive interference, which occurs when the processing of a stimulus feature affects the simultaneous processing of another attribute of the same stimulus. Named color-word (CW) condition, color-words are printed in an inconsistent color ink (for instance the word "red" is printed in green ink). Thus, in this incongruent condition, participants are required to name the color of the ink instead of reading the word. At the completion of the test, the number of incorrect responses and time of completion scores will be recorded. The test has a total of 50 questions and the application takes approximately 5 minutes.

The Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) will be used to evaluate the verbal fluency ability of the participants. Verbal fluency is the ability to generate an appropriate strategy for word searching. The test consists of giving the person 1 minute to verbally list as many things as possible in a category. The verbal fluency test will be done in two different ways. The first one is semantic subtest, in this test the words are generated according to a category (such as 'animals' or 'fruits'). The other one is the phonological fluency subtest, in this test participants are asked to generate words according to the letter they begin with (such as 'F', 'A' or 'S') and on semantic fluency. The correct number of answers within 1 minute will be determined after the completion of the test by listening to voice recorder recordings.

The Serial Subtraction Test (SST) will be used to evaluate the arithmetic performance and mental tracking capacity of the participants. Counting backward is thought to be a simple mental tracking task, which requires the subject to hold information regarding a tracking number in mind while subsequently reversing the order of a set of numbers. The failure to count backward is likely caused by an intrusion of the inappropriate routine schema (e.g. the process of counting forward), as the process of counting forward is more acquired and automatic than that of counting backward. Therefore the investigators preferred to use the counting backward in this study. In this test, the participants will be asked to "subtract 7 from 100" (Serial 7s) and to keep going until they can't go any further".

The 10 Meter Walk Test (10 MWT) is a performance measure used to assess walking speed in meters per second over a short distance. In 10 MWT individuals walk (at a normal pace) without assistance for 10 meters and the time is measured for the intermediate 6 meters to allow for acceleration and deceleration. The timing is started when the toes of the leading foot cross the 2-meter mark and stoped at the 8-meter mark. The total time taken to ambulate 6 meters will be recorded and then divided by the total time (in seconds) in m/s.

The 10 Meter Walking Test with verbal fluency test (10 MWT-VFT) will be used to evaluate the dual-task (motor and cognitive) skills of the participants. In the 10 MWT-VFT, the participants will be evaluated during both conditions: verbal fluency and 10 MWT. While the patients are walking in they will be counting verbally as many things as possible in a category. The correct number of answers while walking will be determined after the completion of the test by listening to voice recorder recordings.

The 10 Meter Walking Test with Serial Subtraction Test (10 MWT-SST) will be used to evaluate the dual-task (motor and cognitive) skills of the participants. In the 10 MWT-SST the participants will be evaluated during both conditions: serial subtraction and 10 MWT. While the patients are walking in they will be asked to "subtract 7 from 100" (Serial 7s) and to keep going until they can't go any further". The correct number of answers while walking will be determined after the completion of the test by listening to voice recorder recordings.

The Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) scale will be used to evaluate the balance performance of the participants. This performance-based scale consists of 10 test items assessing functional balance (static and dynamic) status. The individual test items are feet together, eyes closed (1), reach forward to retrieve an object (2), turn in a full circle (3), step up and over a bench (4), tandem walk (5), stand on one leg (6), stand on foam, eyes closed (7), two-footed jump (8), walk with head turns (9) and reactive postural control (10). Each test item is scored using a 0-4 scale. The highest score is 40 points, and the lowest is zero. Higher scores indicate better balance abilities. The FAB scale is quick to administer (∼10-12 min) and can be administered in a relatively small area.

The D+R Balance Application of iPhone will be used to evaluate the postural sway of the participants. The iPhone will be inserted into an incase armband and will be strapped to the participant's right upper arm. Each dataset represents an area of an ellipse with two standard deviations in the anteroposterior and lateral planes about a mean point, taken over a period of 30 seconds. The resulting Kanegaonkar "K" value (200000 and - 15000) gives information about postural oscillation. For the experimental procedure, the participants will be asked to stand upright with their arms by their sides. Postural sway will be initially assessed in a normal clinic room in 1 of the 8 standing test conditions (4 different standing conditions: (1) feet shoulder wide apart, (2) feet together, (3) tandem position (4) on foam with shoulder wide apart and 2 different visual conditions: (1) eyes open, (2) eyes closed).