Development of a cognitive training program for the elderly

Abstract

Introduction: Plasticity in intellectual functioning has been the target of significant research investment. Among non-pharmacological interventions, cognitive training appears as a promising option for delaying the effects of aging on cognition. Objective: The present study describes the procedures of a cognitive training program for healthy Brazilian elderly persons (without diagnosis of dementia). Method: Cognitive tasks for the training of attention, processing speed, episodic memory and working memory were carried out. The program training was performed over 12 individual sessions, and included an Instruction Book, a Stimulus Book and Protocol Record. To assess the effects of training, five subtests of the WAIS-III test were used: Picture completion, Coding, Arithmetic, Matrix Reasoning and Digit Span. The cognitive training program was tested with 15 individuals, divided into an experimental group (EG), which received training, and a control group (CG). The EG was formed of seven participants, aged between 70 and 82 years (M=73.57, SD=4.11) and with an average schooling of 5.8 years (SD=1.02). The CG was formed by 8 participants, aged 69-77 years (M=74.00, SD=4.58), and who had an average schooling of 2.88 years (SD=2.58). The results of this pilot study show the importance of testing the impact of cognitive training through a randomized clinical trial to verify its effects on the mental performance of older adults. The importance of greater disclosure in literature of the construction procedures involved in cognitive training tasks, as well as the formulation of intervention strategies, is highlighted.

Pilot testing of Dual-task Zumba Gold (DTZ) for community-dwelling people with mild cognitive impairment: A mixed-methods study

“…This promoted a balance between two aspects: participation in a group setting, which is essential for engaging older people in physical activities 67,68 ; and validation of individual performance, which is helpful for cognitive training feedback. 81 Performing within a group could also help enhance older adults' self-esteem, motivating them to improve their skills and adhere to programs with challenging tasks. 68 These support strategies in the DTZ program were crucial in encouraging both participation and adaptation.…”

Effects of Cognitive Training on Cognitive Performance of Healthy Older Adults

“…The following is a brief description of the tasks performed during each session. Detailed program information can be found in Golino and Flores-Mendoza (2016). - Session 01: Identifying differences between figures; fill, as quickly as possible, the correct path of the mazes. - Session 02: Analyze a figure and reproduce it.…”

Efeito da Reabilitação Neuropsicológica na Memória em Idosos Saudáveis – Uma revisão sistemática do Brasil e América Latina

“…Para facilitar a compreensão dos dados determinou-se um padrão para o tipo de memória estimulado através da descrição do instrumento no artigo revisado. Em caso de discordância entre os artigos (um mesmo instrumento ser classificado em um artigo de uma forma e de outra) foram estabelecidos os seguintes critérios: a) Memória episódica: todas as tarefas que exigiam evocação imediata ou tardia dos próprios itens de uma lista, de elementos de uma figura semi-complexa ou reconto de O tamanho da amostra dos estudos analisados variou de 8 (Carrillo & Restrepo, 2009) a 83 sujeitos (Lopes & Argimon, 2016 Com exceção de um estudo que utilizou abordagem individual (Golino & Flores-Mendoza, 2016) todos os demais utilizaram a modalidade coletiva de intervenção (Tabela 3). A maioria dos estudos (n=8) utilizaram como foco do estudo uma abordagem multimodal.…”