The Effectiveness of TECH: Tablet Enhancement of Cognition and Health

A cognitive screening tool that assesses global cognition and includes the cognitive components: attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuo-constructional skills, conceptual thinking, calculations, and orientation.

Total score range from 0-30. A higher score indicates a better cognitive status.

A score above 26 indicates normal cognition

A computerized web-based battery assessment of neurocognitive functioning. The battery will include seven subtests that examine three cognitive domains: memory (Memory recognition/verbal list-learning task), executive planning (Switching of attention test, Verbal interference test, Maze test, Go-no-go test), and attention (Digit span test, Continuous performance test). A total thinking score will be calculated.

Z score was calculated, providing a uniform comparison of the raw scores to a normative database, regardless of the original unit of measure used.

The Z scores have a normative average of 0, with a standard deviation of 1, and no upper of lower limit. Positive values reflect better than average performance, and negative values reflect poorer than average performance.

Designed to assess optimistic self-beliefs to cope with a variety of difficult demands in life. It consists 10 statements such as 'I can solve most problems if I invest the necessary effort'. Possible responses are scored 1-4 (1 - not at all true to 4 - exactly true), the total score range from 10 to 40. Higher scores represent higher levels of general selfefficacy.

SF-12 includes 12 questions from the SF-36 Health Survey. The SF-36 is a widely used and investigated, and validated instrument for measuring quality of life. The SF-12 was developed using normative data for the SF-36 in the United States. The shorter version designed to reproduce the Physical and the Mental Components Summary scores.

A greater score indicates better health measures. The Physical Composite and Mental Composite will be calculated.

Scores range from 0 to 100 for each subscale, with higher scores indicating better physical and mental health functioning

Valid and reliable self-rating screening tool developed to detect depressive symptoms in elderly (D'ath, Katona, Mullan, Evans, & Katona, 1994; Lesher & Berryhill, 1994). The questionnaire includes 15 yes/no statements and takes up to10 minutes to complete.

Total score ranges from 0-15. A higher score indicates a worse emotional state. Score above 10 points indicates the presence of depressive symptoms (Yesavage et al., 1983).

Changes in brain volume, activity, and white-matter integrity will be assessed by MRI whole brain scanning. MRI scans will be performed on a 3T Prisma Siemens scanner at the Alfredo Federico Strauss Center for Computational Neuroimaging at Tel Aviv University. The MRI scans will include: two short structural assessments - magnetization prepared - rapid gradient echo (MP-RAGE) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) - diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (f-MRI) (while participants perform the N-back test).

12 Participants allocated to the TECH intervention (experimental group) will be offered to undergo pre and post MRI scans.

A commonly used goal-directed measure assessing problem-solving, and specifically, planning. A computerized version of the task was used (http://vornlocher.de/tower).The participants completed the first two (out of six) levels of the task. the number of moves per level were recorded. less moves considered better.

A commonly used goal-directed measure assessing problem-solving, and specifically, planning. A computerized version of the task was used (http://vornlocher.de/tower).The participants completed the first two (out of six) levels of the task. the time for completion (seconds) were recorded. Shorter time for completetion considered better.