Effectiveness of Personalized Cognitive Stimulation in Older Adults with Mild Possible Cognitive Impairment: A 12-month Follow-up Cognitive Stimulation in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the long-term effects of a personalized cognitive stimulation (PCS) program in the global cognition, cognitive aspects, activities of daily living (ADLs), anxiety and depression in older adults with possible mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A 12-month follow-up analysis was carried out in a single-blind, randomized clinical trial to research the long-term effects of a 10-week PCS program evaluating the cognitive level, depression, and anxiety of older adults with possible MCI. Results: Fifty older adults were assessed 12 months after the CS program; 23 in the intervention group and 27 in the control group. There were significant differences between the groups at 12 months in the global cognition (p = 0.002), in global orientation (p < 0.001) and in spatial orientation (p = 0.004) in favor of the intervention group, measured with the Spanish version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MEC-35). Conclusions: A PCS program could be effective in improving global cognition, global and spatial orientation. Clinical implications: A PCS program based on cognitive levels in older adults with possible MCI achieves improvements in global cognition and global and spatial orientation. PCS programs can be applied successfully by trained occupational therapists.