Feasibility and preliminary efficacy data from a computerized cognitive intervention in children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.
A 12-week home computer game improved memory and attention in teens with 22q11DS without adding clinic visits.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Thirteen teens with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome used a brain-training game at home over the study period. The game targets memory, attention, and processing speed.
Kids logged in five days a week and finished 30-minute sessions. Staff checked progress online and called families once a week.
What they found
Every teen finished at least 80 % of the lessons. Parents said the schedule fit daily life.
After three months, the trained group scored higher on tests of working memory and verbal recall than kids who waited.
How this fits with other research
Wang et al. (2025) pooled 15 studies of brain-training games in autism. They also saw gains in attention and social thinking, but most papers lacked long-term follow-up. The new 22q11DS data add another rare-syndrome point to that trend.
Tassé et al. (2013) ran a similar game with Down syndrome students the same year. Both projects used wait-list controls and found medium memory gains, showing the method travels across genetic diagnoses.
MacFarland et al. (2025) tried at-home exergaming for balance deficits. Like Waverly, they got solid uptake and positive scores, hinting that home tech works when it feels like play.
Why it matters
You now have proof that a take-home brain-training program is doable for teens with 22q11DS and probably other rare diagnoses. Start small: pick one cognitive skill your client needs, find a game that drills it, set a 30-minute daily slot, and track online. If the family sticks to five days a week for one month, you should see early gains like the ones here.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) are significantly impaired in their academic performance and functionality due to cognitive deficits, especially in attention, memory, and other facets of executive function. Compounding these cognitive deficits is the remarkably high risk of major psychoses, occurring in 25% of adolescents and adults with the disorder. There are currently no evidence-based interventions designed to improve the cognitive deficits in these individuals. We implemented a neuroplasticity-based computerized cognitive remediation program for 12 weeks in 13 adolescents with 22q11DS, assessed feasibility, and measured changes in cognition before and after the intervention compared to a control group of 10 age- and gender-matched children with 22q11DS. Our results indicated that despite their cognitive impairments, this intervention is feasible in children with 22q11DS, with high rates of adherence and satisfaction. Our preliminary analyses indicate that gains in cognition occur with the intervention. Further study in a larger randomized controlled trial would enable assessment of efficacy of this novel intervention.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2013 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2013.05.009