Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Content Validity of the Persian Version of the Structured Cognitive Training Program "NEUROvitalis"
-
Milad Karimi
,
Payam Kabiri
,
Hasan Ashayeri
,
Amin Modarres Zadeh
,
Ahmadreza Khatoonabadi
,
Elke Kalbe
Abstract
Background: The older adult populations is growing worldwide, particularly in Iran, leading to a decline in cognitive functions. Cognitive training effectively enhances cognitive abilities. NEUROvitalis is a structured cognitive training program incorporating psychoeducation with individual and group cognitive tasks. It accommodates up to 8 participants aged 50 and above, spanning 12 sessions over 6 weeks. This study aims to prepare translation, cultural adaptation, and content validity of the Structured Cognitive Training Program "NEUROvitalis".
Materials and methods: To conduct this methodological study, we followed the standard forward-backward process. Then, the translation accuracy was checked by German translators, we assessed the fluency and comprehensibility of the translated material. Twelve assessors from Tehran University of Medical Sciences scored each psychoeducational component—pamphlet, group game, and individual exercise—on a 5-point visual scale. Then, the Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated.
Results: A total of 12 participants (eight females, four males, aged 23–41, mean age 28.83 ± 6.23) took part in the evaluation of comprehensibility and fluency. CVI ranged from 0.8 to 1, indicating the successful validation of the program's comprehensibility and fluency.
Conclusion: The current study's results indicate that the Persian version of the structured cognitive training program "NEUROvitalis" can be a proper, valid, and comprehensive tool for cognitive training in Persian-speaking people aged 50 years and above.
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2. Salthouse T. Consequences of age-related cognitive declines. Annual review of psychology. 2012;63(1):201-26.
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4. Albert MS, DeKosky ST, Dickson D, Dubois B, Feldman HH, Fox NC, et al. The diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging‐Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's & dementia. 2011;7(3):270-9.
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6. Sachdev PS, Blacker D, Blazer DG, Ganguli M, Jeste DV, Paulsen JS, Petersen RC. Classifying neurocognitive disorders: the DSM-5 approach. Nature Reviews Neurology. 2014;10(11):634-42.
7. Anton SD, Woods AJ, Ashizawa T, Barb D, Buford TW, Carter CS, et al. Successful aging: advancing the science of physical independence in older adults. Ageing research reviews. 2015;24:304-27.
8. Okunishi T, Zheng C, Bouazizi M, Ohtsuki T, Kitazawa M, Horigome T, Kishimoto T. Dementia and MCI Detection Based on Comprehensive Facial Expression Analysis From Videos During Conversation. IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics. 2025.
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10. Prince M, Wimo A, Guerchet M, Ali G-C, Wu Y-T, Prina M. World Alzheimer report 2015. The global impact of dementia: an analysis of prevalence, incidence, cost and trends: Alzheimer's disease international; 2015.
11. Alalhesabi M, Rafiee F. Evaluation of the Requirements in Public Space for Elderly: A Case Study in Kholdebarin Park, Shiraz, Iran. Assessing the needs of the elderly in urban spaces. 2013;5(9):247-57.
12. ShiraziKhah M, Mousavi M, Sahaf R. Study of health and social indicators of elderly women in Iran (Based on student thesis). 2013.
13. Dindar Farkosh J, Kazemipour Sabet S, Ansari H. Foresight of the aging trend of the Iranian population in different regions and population groups until 1420. Future study Management. 2022;33(1401).
14. Kalbe E, Bintener C, Ophey A, Reuter C, Göbel S, Klöters S, et al. Computerized cognitive training in healthy older adults: Baseline cognitive level and subjective cognitive concerns predict training outcome. Health. 2018;10(01):20.
15. Sloane PD, Zimmerman S, Suchindran C, Reed P, Wang L, Boustani M, Sudha S. The public health impact of Alzheimer's disease, 2000–2050: potential implication of treatment advances. Annual review of public health. 2002;23(1):213-31.
16. Faucounau V, Wu Y-H, Boulay M, De Rotrou J, Rigaud A-S. Cognitive intervention programmes on patients affected by mild cognitive impairment: a promising intervention tool for MCI? The Journal of nutrition, health and aging. 2010;14(1):31-5.
17. Li H, Li J, Li N, Li B, Wang P, Zhou T. Cognitive intervention for persons with mild cognitive impairment: A meta-analysis. Ageing research reviews. 2011;10(2):285-96.
18. Saber-Moghadam R, Zeinalzadeh A, Jamali J, Farzadfard MT, Sobhani-Rad D. Synergistic effects of combined motor and language interventions on stroke rehabilitation: a holistic approach. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2024;18:1454491.
19. Brum PS, Forlenza OV, Yassuda MS. Cognitive training in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: impact on cognitive and functional performance. Dementia & Neuropsychologia. 2009;3:124-31.
20. Butler M, McCreedy E, Nelson VA, Desai P, Ratner E, Fink HA, et al. Does cognitive training prevent cognitive decline? A systematic review. Annals of internal medicine. 2018;168(1):63-8.
21. Gates NJ, Vernooij RW, Di Nisio M, Karim S, March E, Martínez G, Rutjes AW. Computerised cognitive training for preventing dementia in people with mild cognitive impairment. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2019(3).
22. Belleville S, Boller B, del Val LP. Cognitive training in mild cognitive impairment. Cognitive Training: An Overview of Features and Applications. 2016:187-97.
23. Hötting K, Röder B. Beneficial effects of physical exercise on neuroplasticity and cognition. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2013;37(9):2243-57.
24. Hyer L, Scott C, Atkinson MM, Mullen CM, Lee A, Johnson A, Mckenzie LC. Cognitive training program to improve working memory in older adults with MCI. Clinical gerontologist. 2016;39(5):410-27.
25. Lee H, Hwang K. The Effects of CogPack program on LOTCA and ADL in Elderly with Alzheimer's Dementia. Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine. 2014;2(3):1-7.
26. Irazoki E, Contreras-Somoza LM, Toribio-Guzmán JM, Jenaro-Río C, Van der Roest H, Franco-Martín MA. Technologies for cognitive training and cognitive rehabilitation for people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. A systematic review. Frontiers in psychology. 2020;11:528939.
27. Hagovská M, Dzvoník O, Olekszyová Z. Comparison of two cognitive training programs with effects on functional activities and quality of life. Research in gerontological nursing. 2017;10(4):172-80.
28. Petrelli A, Kaesberg S, Barbe MT, Timmermann L, Fink GR, Kessler J, Kalbe E. Effects of cognitive training in Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial. Parkinsonism & related disorders. 2014;20(11):1196-202.
29. Rahe J, Becker J, Fink GR, Kessler J, Kukolja J, Rahn A, et al. Cognitive training with and without additional physical activity in healthy older adults: cognitive effects, neurobiological mechanisms, and prediction of training success. Frontiers in aging neuroscience. 2015;7:187.
30. Kalbe E, Roheger M, Paluszak K, Meyer J, Becker J, Fink GR, et al. Effects of a cognitive training with and without additional physical activity in healthy older adults: a follow-up 1 year after a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in aging neuroscience. 2018;10:407.
31. Gisa Baller EK, Stephanie Kaesberg, Ann-Kristin Folkerts, Josef Kessler. neurovitalis basic program. 2nd ed. Printed in Germany ProLog; 2020.
32. Nazarboland N, Tahmasi A, Nejati V. Effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation based on “ARAM” program in improving executive functions of selective attention and inhibitory control in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. Journal of Cognitive Psychology. 2019;7(3):40-59.
33. Mohammadi S, Baseri A, Mohammadi Aria A. Comparison of the effect of cognitive-balance rehabilitation with Orton-Davis integrated method in the form of distance education on the overall performance of reading and understanding words and text comprehension of dyslexic children. Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies. 2022;3(3):100-4.
34. Javadzadeh Z, Nejati V, Poushaneh K. Effectiveness of BARAN Cognitive Rehabilitation Program on Executive Functioning Children With High–function Autism Spectrum. Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2023;12(1):132-45.
35. Ramezan Nia Z, Nejati V. Effectiveness of PARS Cognitive Rehabilitation Program on the Improvement of Executive Function in Children with ADHD. Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2017;6(4):219-30.
36. Abadi F, Nejati V, Pouretemad HR. THE EFFECT OF PARIA COGNITIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAM ON RECOGNITION OF BASIC EMOTIONS IN CHILDREN WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM DISORDER. The Journal of Urmia University of Medical Sciences. 2016;27.
37. Nazarboland N TA, Nejati V. . Effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation based on “ARAM” program in improving executive functions of selective attention, inhibitory control and working memory in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. CPJ 2019;7(3):40-59.
38. Ghaderi Rammazi M TM, Barekatain M, Abedi A. . Cognitive problems of Iranian elderly with mild cognitive impairment: A qualitative study for developing a cognitive rehabilitation package. Advances in Cognitive Sciences. 2023;25(2):1-14.
39. Mam Khezri A, Mikaeli Manieh F. Investigation into effects of Lumosity on working memory, visual Memory and executive functions among the elderly. Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry. 2021;8(3):25-38.
40. Dunning T. Happy neuron launches online brain games. 2007.
41. Peretz C, Korczyn AD, Shatil E, Aharonson V, Birnboim S, Giladi N. Computer-based, personalized cognitive training versus classical computer games: a randomized double-blind prospective trial of cognitive stimulation. Neuroepidemiology. 2011;36(2):91-9.
42. Aksayli ND, Sala G, Gobet F. The cognitive and academic benefits of Cogmed: A meta-analysis. Educational Research Review. 2019;27:229-43.
43. Kpolovie PJ. Lumosity training and brain-boosting food effects on learning. International Research Journals. 2012;2(6):217-30.
44. Breznitz S. CogniFit Training: The key to cognitive vitality. CogniFit. https://www. cognifit. com/pdf/experts/Cognitive_Vitality_2011. pdf; 2011.
45. McDonnell A, Agius M, Zaytseva Y. Is there an optimal cognitive application to be used for cognitive remediation in clinical psychiatric practice? Psychiatria Danubina. 2017;29(suppl. 3):292-9.
46. Roheger M, Kessler J, Kalbe E. Structured cognitive training yields best results in healthy older adults, and their ApoE4 state and baseline cognitive level predict training Benefits. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology. 2019;32(2):76-86.
2. Salthouse T. Consequences of age-related cognitive declines. Annual review of psychology. 2012;63(1):201-26.
3. Gauthier S, Reisberg B, Zaudig M, Petersen RC, Ritchie K, Broich K, et al. Mild cognitive impairment. The lancet. 2006;367(9518):1262-70.
4. Albert MS, DeKosky ST, Dickson D, Dubois B, Feldman HH, Fox NC, et al. The diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging‐Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's & dementia. 2011;7(3):270-9.
5. Saber-Moghadam R, Zeinalzadeh A, Momenzadeh M, Farzadfar MT, Ghaemi H, Sobhani-Rad D. The relationship between memory, type, and severity of aphasia with confrontation naming in post-stroke patients with chronic aphasia. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. 2022;20(4):561-8.
6. Sachdev PS, Blacker D, Blazer DG, Ganguli M, Jeste DV, Paulsen JS, Petersen RC. Classifying neurocognitive disorders: the DSM-5 approach. Nature Reviews Neurology. 2014;10(11):634-42.
7. Anton SD, Woods AJ, Ashizawa T, Barb D, Buford TW, Carter CS, et al. Successful aging: advancing the science of physical independence in older adults. Ageing research reviews. 2015;24:304-27.
8. Okunishi T, Zheng C, Bouazizi M, Ohtsuki T, Kitazawa M, Horigome T, Kishimoto T. Dementia and MCI Detection Based on Comprehensive Facial Expression Analysis From Videos During Conversation. IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics. 2025.
9. Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY, Costafreda SG, Selbæk G, Alladi S, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The Lancet. 2024;404(10452):572-628.
10. Prince M, Wimo A, Guerchet M, Ali G-C, Wu Y-T, Prina M. World Alzheimer report 2015. The global impact of dementia: an analysis of prevalence, incidence, cost and trends: Alzheimer's disease international; 2015.
11. Alalhesabi M, Rafiee F. Evaluation of the Requirements in Public Space for Elderly: A Case Study in Kholdebarin Park, Shiraz, Iran. Assessing the needs of the elderly in urban spaces. 2013;5(9):247-57.
12. ShiraziKhah M, Mousavi M, Sahaf R. Study of health and social indicators of elderly women in Iran (Based on student thesis). 2013.
13. Dindar Farkosh J, Kazemipour Sabet S, Ansari H. Foresight of the aging trend of the Iranian population in different regions and population groups until 1420. Future study Management. 2022;33(1401).
14. Kalbe E, Bintener C, Ophey A, Reuter C, Göbel S, Klöters S, et al. Computerized cognitive training in healthy older adults: Baseline cognitive level and subjective cognitive concerns predict training outcome. Health. 2018;10(01):20.
15. Sloane PD, Zimmerman S, Suchindran C, Reed P, Wang L, Boustani M, Sudha S. The public health impact of Alzheimer's disease, 2000–2050: potential implication of treatment advances. Annual review of public health. 2002;23(1):213-31.
16. Faucounau V, Wu Y-H, Boulay M, De Rotrou J, Rigaud A-S. Cognitive intervention programmes on patients affected by mild cognitive impairment: a promising intervention tool for MCI? The Journal of nutrition, health and aging. 2010;14(1):31-5.
17. Li H, Li J, Li N, Li B, Wang P, Zhou T. Cognitive intervention for persons with mild cognitive impairment: A meta-analysis. Ageing research reviews. 2011;10(2):285-96.
18. Saber-Moghadam R, Zeinalzadeh A, Jamali J, Farzadfard MT, Sobhani-Rad D. Synergistic effects of combined motor and language interventions on stroke rehabilitation: a holistic approach. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2024;18:1454491.
19. Brum PS, Forlenza OV, Yassuda MS. Cognitive training in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: impact on cognitive and functional performance. Dementia & Neuropsychologia. 2009;3:124-31.
20. Butler M, McCreedy E, Nelson VA, Desai P, Ratner E, Fink HA, et al. Does cognitive training prevent cognitive decline? A systematic review. Annals of internal medicine. 2018;168(1):63-8.
21. Gates NJ, Vernooij RW, Di Nisio M, Karim S, March E, Martínez G, Rutjes AW. Computerised cognitive training for preventing dementia in people with mild cognitive impairment. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2019(3).
22. Belleville S, Boller B, del Val LP. Cognitive training in mild cognitive impairment. Cognitive Training: An Overview of Features and Applications. 2016:187-97.
23. Hötting K, Röder B. Beneficial effects of physical exercise on neuroplasticity and cognition. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2013;37(9):2243-57.
24. Hyer L, Scott C, Atkinson MM, Mullen CM, Lee A, Johnson A, Mckenzie LC. Cognitive training program to improve working memory in older adults with MCI. Clinical gerontologist. 2016;39(5):410-27.
25. Lee H, Hwang K. The Effects of CogPack program on LOTCA and ADL in Elderly with Alzheimer's Dementia. Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine. 2014;2(3):1-7.
26. Irazoki E, Contreras-Somoza LM, Toribio-Guzmán JM, Jenaro-Río C, Van der Roest H, Franco-Martín MA. Technologies for cognitive training and cognitive rehabilitation for people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. A systematic review. Frontiers in psychology. 2020;11:528939.
27. Hagovská M, Dzvoník O, Olekszyová Z. Comparison of two cognitive training programs with effects on functional activities and quality of life. Research in gerontological nursing. 2017;10(4):172-80.
28. Petrelli A, Kaesberg S, Barbe MT, Timmermann L, Fink GR, Kessler J, Kalbe E. Effects of cognitive training in Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial. Parkinsonism & related disorders. 2014;20(11):1196-202.
29. Rahe J, Becker J, Fink GR, Kessler J, Kukolja J, Rahn A, et al. Cognitive training with and without additional physical activity in healthy older adults: cognitive effects, neurobiological mechanisms, and prediction of training success. Frontiers in aging neuroscience. 2015;7:187.
30. Kalbe E, Roheger M, Paluszak K, Meyer J, Becker J, Fink GR, et al. Effects of a cognitive training with and without additional physical activity in healthy older adults: a follow-up 1 year after a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in aging neuroscience. 2018;10:407.
31. Gisa Baller EK, Stephanie Kaesberg, Ann-Kristin Folkerts, Josef Kessler. neurovitalis basic program. 2nd ed. Printed in Germany ProLog; 2020.
32. Nazarboland N, Tahmasi A, Nejati V. Effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation based on “ARAM” program in improving executive functions of selective attention and inhibitory control in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. Journal of Cognitive Psychology. 2019;7(3):40-59.
33. Mohammadi S, Baseri A, Mohammadi Aria A. Comparison of the effect of cognitive-balance rehabilitation with Orton-Davis integrated method in the form of distance education on the overall performance of reading and understanding words and text comprehension of dyslexic children. Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies. 2022;3(3):100-4.
34. Javadzadeh Z, Nejati V, Poushaneh K. Effectiveness of BARAN Cognitive Rehabilitation Program on Executive Functioning Children With High–function Autism Spectrum. Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2023;12(1):132-45.
35. Ramezan Nia Z, Nejati V. Effectiveness of PARS Cognitive Rehabilitation Program on the Improvement of Executive Function in Children with ADHD. Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2017;6(4):219-30.
36. Abadi F, Nejati V, Pouretemad HR. THE EFFECT OF PARIA COGNITIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAM ON RECOGNITION OF BASIC EMOTIONS IN CHILDREN WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM DISORDER. The Journal of Urmia University of Medical Sciences. 2016;27.
37. Nazarboland N TA, Nejati V. . Effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation based on “ARAM” program in improving executive functions of selective attention, inhibitory control and working memory in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. CPJ 2019;7(3):40-59.
38. Ghaderi Rammazi M TM, Barekatain M, Abedi A. . Cognitive problems of Iranian elderly with mild cognitive impairment: A qualitative study for developing a cognitive rehabilitation package. Advances in Cognitive Sciences. 2023;25(2):1-14.
39. Mam Khezri A, Mikaeli Manieh F. Investigation into effects of Lumosity on working memory, visual Memory and executive functions among the elderly. Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry. 2021;8(3):25-38.
40. Dunning T. Happy neuron launches online brain games. 2007.
41. Peretz C, Korczyn AD, Shatil E, Aharonson V, Birnboim S, Giladi N. Computer-based, personalized cognitive training versus classical computer games: a randomized double-blind prospective trial of cognitive stimulation. Neuroepidemiology. 2011;36(2):91-9.
42. Aksayli ND, Sala G, Gobet F. The cognitive and academic benefits of Cogmed: A meta-analysis. Educational Research Review. 2019;27:229-43.
43. Kpolovie PJ. Lumosity training and brain-boosting food effects on learning. International Research Journals. 2012;2(6):217-30.
44. Breznitz S. CogniFit Training: The key to cognitive vitality. CogniFit. https://www. cognifit. com/pdf/experts/Cognitive_Vitality_2011. pdf; 2011.
45. McDonnell A, Agius M, Zaytseva Y. Is there an optimal cognitive application to be used for cognitive remediation in clinical psychiatric practice? Psychiatria Danubina. 2017;29(suppl. 3):292-9.
46. Roheger M, Kessler J, Kalbe E. Structured cognitive training yields best results in healthy older adults, and their ApoE4 state and baseline cognitive level predict training Benefits. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology. 2019;32(2):76-86.
| Issue | Articles in Press | |
| Section | Research Article(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Cognitive Dysfunction, Cognitive Training, Aged, Cognitive Aging | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
How to Cite
1.
Karimi M, Kabiri P, Ashayeri H, Modarres Zadeh A, Khatoonabadi A, Kalbe E. Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Content Validity of the Persian Version of the Structured Cognitive Training Program "NEUROvitalis". jmr. 2025;(-).
