Training of executive functions in healthy elderly: Results of a pilot study

Abstract

Executive functions (EF) refer to the cognitive skills necessary to formulate a goal, plan, execute plans effectively, and to perform self-monitoring and self-correction. Several aspects of EF change during the normal aging process.ObjectivesTo train skills associated with executive functions in the elderly and to detect possible impact on objective EF tests and self-reports of functional status.MethodsA cross-sectional study involving an intervention and pre and post testing was carried out. Study participants included 26 seniors assigned to an experimental group (EG) and given six sessions of cognitive intervention, and 17 seniors assigned to a control group (CG) who completed pre and post testing only. All participants were enrolled in an Open University for the Third Age. The following tests were used to measure outcome: the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the Story subtest of the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test (RBMT) (versions A and B), semantic verbal fluency fruit category, and verbal fluency with phonological constraints (FAS), WAIS-III Digit Span, Clock Drawing Test (CDT), Trail Making Part A and the Pfeffer Functional Assessment Questionnaire (PFAQ). Delta scores were calculated (post-test score minus pretest score) to assess the impact of the intervention.ResultsIn the post test, the CG showed significant improvement on the RBMT Story recall and Digit Span but a decline in verbal fluency. The EG remained stable in terms of pre and post test scores.ConclusionsThe intervention did not enhance performance on the EF tests. It is noteworthy that the EG received only a small number of sessions which may not have been sufficient to generate improvement. Alternatively, the lack of group differences observed could be associated to participation in other workshops offered at the university.

El entrenamiento cognitivo en los ancianos y efectos en las funciones ejecutivas

“…Regarding the marital status, most participants were married (EG: M = 62.2; CG: M = 50), and the groups were considered homogeneous as well. Most participants had an incomplete higher education (EG: M= 12.6, SD 5.0; CG: M= 12.1, SD 5.0), thus presenting high levels of education, which differs from other studies (Yassuda et al, 2006;Irigaray et al, 2012;Lima-Silva et al, 2012;Brum et al, 2009), and is similar to a study by Nouchi, Taki, Takeuchi, Hashizume and Akitsuki (2012). An important finding is the significant difference between groups regarding health problems (P = 0.048) and physical activities (P = 0.033).…”

Effects of a Physical Activity and Brain Exercise Program on Cognitive Ability of Healthy Thai Elders

“…The median score of the MMSE scores and the mean score of the MoCA scores increased by 11.54 and 19.74 %, respectively. This is higher than the score reported in a Brazilian study conducted in healthy elderly (MMSE score −0.26 %) [37], using a neurobic exercise study with 10 activities for 5 weeks (MMSE score 3.97 %) [28]. Furthermore, in a previous Thai study, the MoCA score improved after 3 months by 13.58 % [30].…”

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

“…Lima- Silva et al (2012) utilizaram um conteúdo educativo sobre memória, cognição e funções executivas e realização de tarefas associadas a função executiva e atenção. Irigaray, Gomes Filho e Schneider (2012) aplicaram quatro sessões de treino de atenção, quatro de treino de memória e quatro de treino de funções executivas.…”