Effect of cognitive stimulation workshops on the self-esteem and cognition of the elderly A pilot project

Abstract

According to the WHO, by 2025 Brazil will be ranked sixth in the world in terms of proportion of elderly in the population. Within this scope, cognition plays a central role in the aging process, having an important association with quality of life, which suggests the need to develop intervention programs, such as cognitive training.Objective:To determine the effects of a program of cognitive stimulation workshops on the self-esteem and cognition of elderly people.Methods:Thirty-eight elderly subjects completed the three-step protocol: 1) Survey of demographic data and evaluation of cognition by a neuropsychological battery and of self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSS), prior to training; 2) Participation in twelve cognitive stimulation workshops; and 3) Cognitive evaluation and RSS after the training.Results:Results showed that the use of training produced positive effects on cognitive test performance of the elderly with and without cognitive impairment. By extension, this demonstrates positive impact on their self-esteem.Conclusion:These findings encourage investment in cognitive stimulation programs as a resource for improved cognition and quality of life for the elderly. Subjective cognitive complaint may have served as a predictor of decreased self-esteem; therefore, as training improved cognition, it also improved self-esteem.

Memory training combined with 3D visuospatial stimulus improves cognitive performance in the elderly: pilot study

“…Within this scope, these results corroborate the literature regarding the effects of memory training. 12,[33][34][35][38][39][40][41][42] The results of this study also suggest that the use of the MT program in combination with the attentional training through 3D-MOT was innovative and demonstrated positive effects on attention, working memory, and visual information processing speed in the aged participants in the EG. It is noteworthy that the 3D-MOT has already proven to be an important technological resource for cognition in athletes, as it stimulates the peripheral vision resulting in the improvement of information processing speed.…”

“…The composition of the mnemonic strategies was designed to determine the effectiveness in the daily lives of the aged participants and, consequently, an improvement in the quality of life as reported in the literature. 10 , 12 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 38 …”

“…Within this scope, these results corroborate the literature regarding the effects of memory training. 12 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 …”

“…The composition of the mnemonic strategies was designed to determine the effectiveness in the daily lives of the aged participants and, consequently, an improvement in the quality of life as reported in the literature. 10,12,[33][34][35]38 In general, specifically regarding MT, participants of the EG and CG obtained cognitive improvements in the evaluated aspects and it was evident that the use of strategies -proven through the numbers of categories evoked in the post-training -showed that the mnemonic process significantly enhanced the memory capacity of the participants. In addition, the results showed better scores in episodic and working memory and in the general memory score as well as in attention and in information processing speed, thus reflecting an improvement in the cognitive performance of this population.…”

Cognitive stimulation program in mild cognitive impairment A randomized controlled trial

“…4 The MCI concept has led to debate regarding the value of non-pharmacologic interventions. 5 Nonpharmacological cognitive interventions could be key in preventing or delaying cognitive impairment and functional disability. 6 Clare & Woods (2004) 7 describe three different types of cognitive intervention: cognitive training, cognitive rehabilitation and cognitive stimulation.…”