Cognitive rehabilitation in the elderly: A randomized trial to evaluate a new protocol

Abstract

This study provides an introduction to, and overview of, several papers that resulted from a randomized control trial that evaluated a new cognitive rehabilitation protocol. The program was designed to improve general strategic abilities in ways that would be expressed in a broad range of functional domains. The trial, which was conducted on a sample of older adults who had experienced normal age-related cognitive decline, assessed performance in the following domains: memory, goal management, and psychosocial status. The general rationale for the trial, the overall experimental design, and the approach to statistical analyses that are relevant to each paper are described here. The results for each functional domain are reported in separate papers in this series.

Cognitive rehabilitation in the elderly: Effects on strategic behavior in relation to goal management

“…The statistical analysis strategy followed the general framework as described by Stuss et al (2007), with a few exceptions. The main comparison of interest was at Assessment B, where the two groups were matched for time enrolled in the study and exposure to the outcome measures (i.e., both groups had received the school carpool task and the DEX 14 weeks earlier).…”

“…Data from these measures are reported in the other papers in this volume Stuss et al, 2007;Winocur et al, 2007a). In this study, we focus on two measures sensitive to the capacities targeted by GMT: simulated real-life tasks (SRLTs) and the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX; Burgess et al, 1998).…”

“…Levine et al constraints that the groups were matched on background variables. Rehabilitation took place immediately after admission into the program for the ETG and 3 months after for the LTG (see Stuss et al, 2007, for more details on the sample). The study was approved by the Baycrest Research Ethics Board and conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration.…”

“…The effects of our cognitive rehabilitation program were assessed with a large battery of tests, including many standard neuropsychological tests and outcome questionnaires (see Craik et al, 2007;Stuss et al, 2007;Winocur et al, 2007a). In the modified GMT, we targeted real-life task performance, which is often disconnected from performance on neuropsychological tests (Alderman et al, 2003;Levine et al, 1998;Shallice & Burgess, 1991).…”

Effects of a comprehensive educational group intervention in older women with cognitive complaints: A randomized controlled trial

“…These studies vary greatly in content, design and outcome (see for example (Hohaus, 2007;Lachman, Weaver, Bandura, Elliott, & Lewkowicz, 1992;Mohs, et al, 1998;Stuss, et al, 2007;Troyer, 2001;Valentijn, et al, 2005;West, Bagwell, & Dark-Freudeman, 2008;Winocur, et al, 2007).…”