Effectiveness Verification of Cognitive Training Contents Using a Mobile Application for Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment in the Community

Objective : This study aimed to verify the effectiveness and clinical applicability of a mobile applicationbased cognitive training program for older adults living in the community with cognitive impairment. The intervention's impact on cognitive function, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and depressive symptoms was examined. Methods : A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was employed. Sixty older adults aged 65 years or older with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia, recruited from dementia care centers in Busan and Ulsan, participated in the study. All participants received weekly cognitive training at the center using a paper-based workbook. Additionally, for eight weeks, the experimental group performed home-based cognitive training using a mobile application five times per week, while the control group used the paper-based workbook with the same frequency. Outcomes were assessed using the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for Geriatrics (LOTCA-G), the Korean Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-IADL), and the Geriatric Depression Scale-Korea (GDS-K). Results : Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significant improvements in overall cognitive function (p=.000, r=.621), memory (p=.000, r=.530), and attention (p=.000, r=.483). Although within-group improvements in IADL (p=.000, r=.499) and depression (p=.001, r=.440) were observed in the experimental group, between-group differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion : Mobile application-based cognitive training effectively enhanced cognitive function and may contribute to improvements in daily functioning and emotional well-being. This intervention is practical for use in non-face-to-face environments and may serve as a viable strategy to promote cognitive health and quality of life among older adults in community settings.