Effects of a Group Program to Increase Cognitive Performance Through Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activities in Healthy Older Subjects

GeroPsych ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina A. Tesky ◽  
Christian Thiel ◽  
Winfried Banzer ◽  
Johannes Pantel
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Group Program ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Older Subjects

To investigate the effects of leisure activities on cognitive performance of healthy older subjects, an innovative intervention program was developed. Frequent participation in cognitively stimulating activities (i.e., reading, playing chess, or playing music) is associated with reduced risk of dementia. AKTIVA (active cognitive stimulation – prevention in the elderly) is an intervention program designed to enhance cognitive stimulation in everyday life by increasing cognitive stimulating leisure activities. The present study determines the effects of AKTIVA on cognitive function, mood and attitude toward aging in a sample of older participants from the general population. Several measurement instruments were used including the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog), the Trail-Making Test (TMT), and the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q). Initially, the sample consisted of 307 older persons (170 female, 72 ± 7 years). The intervention was evaluated with a randomized, controlled pre-post follow-up design. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: AKTIVA intervention (n = 126), AKTIVA intervention plus nutrition and exercise counseling (n = 84), no-intervention control group (n = 97). The AKTIVA intervention consisted of 8 weekly sessions and two booster sessions after a break of 4 months. Participation in the group program resulted in positive effects on cognitive function and attitude toward aging for subassembly groups. Older persons (≥ 75 years) showed enhanced speed of information processing (by TMT Version A) (F = 4.17*, p < .05); younger participants (< 75 years) showed an improvement in subjective memory decline (by MAC-Q) (F = 2.55*, p < .05). Additionally, AKTIVA enhanced the frequency of activities for leisure activities for subassembly groups. The results of this study suggest that the AKTIVA program can be used to increase cognitively stimulating leisure activities in the elderly. Further research is necessary to identify the long-term effects of this intervention particularly with respect to the prevention of dementia.

Physical activity and cognitive function in older persons

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Critical Challenge

Strategies to improve cognitive aging are highly needed. Among those, promotion of exercise and physical activity appears as one of the most attractive and beneficial intervention. Indeed, results from basic and clinical studies suggest that exercise and physical activity have positive effects on cognition in older persons without cognitive impairment, as well as in those with dementia. Despite inconsistent results, aerobic exercise appears to have the strongest potential to enhance cognition. However, even limited periods of walking (45 minutes, three times a week, over a 6-month period) have also been shown to enhance cognition, particularly executive functions. Changing long-term lifestyle habits in these older persons remains a critical challenge and attractive programs susceptible to gain adherence are needed to succeed in achieving improved cognitive aging.

scholarly journals A Dialogue-Based System with Photo and Storytelling for Older Adults: Toward Daily Cognitive Training

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiki Tokunaga ◽  
Kazuhiro Tamura ◽  
Mihoko Otake-Matsuura
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Question Answering ◽  
Design Method ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Assistive Robots ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
At Home

As the elderly population grows worldwide, living a healthy and full life as an older adult is becoming a topic of great interest. One key factor and severe challenge to maintaining quality of life in older adults is cognitive decline. Assistive robots for helping older adults have been proposed to solve issues such as social isolation and dependent living. Only a few studies have reported the positive effects of dialogue robots on cognitive function but conversation is being discussed as a promising intervention that includes various cognitive tasks. Existing dialogue robot-related studies have reported on placing dialogue robots in elderly homes and allowing them to interact with residents. However, it is difficult to reproduce these experiments since the participants’ characteristics influence experimental conditions, especially at home. Besides, most dialogue systems are not designed to set experimental conditions without on-site support. This study proposes a novel design method that uses a dialogue-based robot system for cognitive training at home. We define challenges and requirements to meet them to realize cognitive function training through daily communication. Those requirements are designed to satisfy detailed conditions such as duration of dialogue, frequency, and starting time without on-site support. Our system displays photos and gives original stories to provide contexts for dialogue that help the robot maintain a conversation for each story. Then the system schedules dialogue sessions along with the participant’s plan. The robot moderates the user to ask a question and then responds to the question by changing its facial expression. This question-answering procedure continued for a specific duration (4 min). To verify our design method’s effectiveness and implementation, we conducted three user studies by recruiting 35 elderly participants. We performed prototype-, laboratory-, and home-based experiments. Through these experiments, we evaluated current datasets, user experience, and feasibility for home use. We report on and discuss the older adults’ attitudes toward the robot and the number of turns during dialogues. We also classify the types of utterances and identify user needs. Herein, we outline the findings of this study, outlining the system’s essential characteristics to experiment toward daily cognitive training and explain further feature requests.

scholarly journals Effects of Physical Activity on Brain Energy Biomarkers in Alzheimer’s Diseases

Diseases ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Khadijeh Ebrahimi ◽  
Morteza Jourkesh ◽  
Saeed Sadigh-Eteghad ◽  
Stephen R Stannard ◽  
Conrad P. Earnest ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Protective Effect ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Preventive Interventions ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Brain Energy

The prevalence of dementia has substantially increased worldwide. Currently, there is no cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and care for affected patients is financially and psychologically costly. Of late, more attention has been given to preventive interventions—in particular, physical activity/exercise. In this review, examine the risk factors associated with AD and the effects physical activity may play in the prevention of the degenerative process of this disease, loss of memory and cognitive performance in the elderly. To date, research has shown that physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, has a protective effect on cognitive function and memory in the elderly and Alzheimer’s patients. In comparison with aerobic exercise, several strength training studies have also shown positive effects, and the rare studies that compare the two different modalities show no difference.

scholarly journals Influence of Cognitive Stimulation Group Activity Memory Game Therapy on Elderly Cognitive Function: Quasi-Experimental

Jurnal NERS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 242
Author(s):  
Qolbi Nur Qoidah Yahya ◽  
Purwaningsih Purwaningsih ◽  
Purwaningsih Purwaningsih ◽  
Makhfudli Makhfudli ◽  
Makhfudli Makhfudli
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Data Retrieval ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Group Activity ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Game Therapy ◽  
Stimulation Group ◽  
Memory Game

Introduction: Older adults experience a change in their nervous system that influences cognitive function, including the abilities of orientation, registration, attention-calculation, memory and language. These changes affect the independence of the elderly when carrying out their daily activities. The purpose of this research was to analyze the effect of cognitive stimulation group activity memory game therapy on elderly cognitive function.Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental pre-post approach with a control group design. The population in this study was the elderly who were aged >60 in Nursing Home Blitar, totaling 20 older patients. The data retrieval for this research was conducted between April and May 2012. The elderly in the treatment group were given flash card stimulus to practice their perceptual abilities 8 times (1 month). The measurement of elderly cognitive function used the Mini Mental State Examination questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the Wilcoxon Sign Rank test.Results: The results showed that elderly cognitive function increased from 10,3 (pre test) to 14,65 (post test) with p=0,005 (p<0,05). This result shows that cognitive stimulation group activity memory games have a significance influence on elderly cognitive function.Conclusion: Practical nurses can use this therapy to improve elderly cognitive function not only in Elderly Social Institutions but also in the community or through public health.

scholarly journals The effect of driving simulator program on elderly drivers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deokju Kim
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Visual Perception ◽  
Frontal Lobe ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Safe Driving ◽  
Elderly Drivers ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Frontal Lobe Function ◽  
Simulator Program

Abstract Background: The purpose of the present study was to present evidence for driving interventions for the elderly by conducting programs that can improve visual perception and cognitive function in a driving simulator for elderly drivers and analyse their effects.Methods: Three elderly subjects who were 65 years or older, did not have physical and cognitive impairments, and were able to drive themselves participated in the present study. A total of 12 intervention sessions, of which subjects participated in 10 sessions of nine different visual perception and cognitive function programs available in a driving simulator, were conducted and pre- and post-program assessments were conducted (two assessments in total). The assessments included the evaluation of visual perception, frontal lobe function, concentration, safe driving behaviour, and self-efficacy.Results: The results showed positive effects of the driving simulator program on the visual perception, frontal lobe function, concentration, safe driving behaviour, and self-efficacy of all subjects. Changes in the simulator results showed remarkable improvement in the response evaluation, judgment evaluation, and predictive power evaluation, but showed difficulties in interference tasks and depth perception in common.Conclusions: The results showed positive effects of driving simulator training on the driving ability of the elderly, and consistent provision of such training is expected to improve the quality of life of the elderly by securing the safety of driving and actively supporting social participation.

scholarly journals Thyroid Function and Cognition during Aging

2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Bégin ◽  
M. F. Langlois ◽  
D. Lorrain ◽  
S. C. Cunnane
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Adults ◽  
Normal Functioning ◽  
Normal Limits

We summarize here the studies examining the association between thyroid function and cognitive performance from an aging perspective. The available data suggest that there may be a continuum in which cognitive dysfunction can result from increased or decreased concentrations of thyroid hormones. Clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism as well as hyperthyroidism in middle-aged and elderly adults are both associated with decreased cognitive functioning, especially memory, visuospatial organization, attention, and reaction time. Mild variations of thyroid function, even within normal limits, can have significant consequences for cognitive function in the elderly. Different cognitive deficits possibly related to thyroid failure do not necessarily follow a consistent pattern, and L-thyroxine treatment may not always completely restore normal functioning in patients with hypothyroidism. There is little or no consensus in the literature regarding how thyroid function is associated with cognitive performance in the elderly.

scholarly journals Healing spaces: improving health and wellbeing for the elderly through therapeutic landscape design

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Marques ◽  
Jacqueline McIntosh ◽  
Chelsea Kershaw
Keyword(s):  
Older Persons ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Landscape Design ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Exercise Participation ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Therapeutic Landscape ◽  
Wide Range

Existing research supports a wide range of positive effects for physical, mental and social wellbeing from outdoor exercise, particularly through engagement with nature, however few current landscapes facilitate exercise participation and efficacy for older persons and often require targeted design refinement to foster accessibility, inclusivity and sociability. In order to identify how therapeutic landscape design can be developed to best assist older persons' health and wellbeing, epidemiological data, injury statistics, and currently available outdoor fitness equipment that is specifically marketed for use by older persons were examined. A number of problematic design issues were identified including poor equipment design; failure to integrate cognitive tasks; and minimal integration of safe, age and ability-specific elements. This paper advocates rekindling the connection to public green space in order to foster disability prevention and promote rehabilitation in older persons. The incorporation of design elements that specifically address elements of prevalent morbidities and concerns, such as psychological restoration, stress reduction, attention recovery, the health and wellbeing of older persons in the community could be improved. Age-specific design suggestions include integrating interactive landscapes with ecological regenerative planning to assist with the prevention of common morbidities in older persons.

scholarly journals PENGARUH AKTIVITAS PENGASUHAN CUCU TERHADAP FUNGSI KOGNITIF PADA PEREMPUAN LANSIA

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederica Jovianti ◽  
Linda Suryakusuma ◽  
Yuda Turana ◽  
Yvonne Suzy Handajani
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Mini Mental State Examination ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Neurodegenerative Process ◽  
The Impact ◽  
State Examination

THE IMPACT OF GRANDPARENTING ACTIVITY ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN ELDERLY WOMANABSTRACT Introduction: Cognitive impairment is a neurodegenerative process which often experienced by the elderly. One of the factors associated with cognitive function is grandparenting which is common and has become a social norm in Indonesia.Aims: To determine the association between characteristics of the subjects and grandparenting activity with cognitive function in elderly woman.Methods: This study was conducted on July 2016–January 2017 in West Jakarta and as a part of Active Ageing Research in Atma Jaya University. The data were collected through grandparenting activity questionnaire and cognitive function assessment using Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).Results: Based on 93 participants, the age mean was 67,51±5,058 and majority had education <9 years (54,8%). Data analysis showed that education, grandparenting, the quality of grandparenting, types of grandparenting activity specifically preparing food and/or feeding child and storytelling had a significant association with global cognitive function.Discussions: Physical, social activity, and cognitive stimulation while caring for grandchildren can prevent decline in cognitive function.Keywords: Elderly, cognitive function, grandparentingABSTRAK Pendahuluan: Penurunan fungsi kognitif merupakan suatu proses neurodegeneratif yang sering dialami oleh lansia. Salah satu faktor yang dianggap berpengaruh terhadap fungsi kognitif adalah aktivitas pengasuhan cucu yang masih umum dilakukan dan telah menjadi bagian dari norma masyarakat di Indonesia.Tujuan: Mengetahui hubungan antara karakteristik subjek dan aktivitas pengasuhan cucu terhadap fungsi kognitif pada perempuan lansia.Metode: Penelitian dilakukan pada bulan Juli 2016–Januari 2017 di Jakarta Barat dan merupakan bagian dari penelitian Active Ageing di Universitas Atma Jaya. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui pengisian kuesioner aktivitas pengasuhan cucu dan pengukuran fungsi kognitif menggunakan Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).Hasil: Penelitian terhadap 93 subjek dengan rerata usia 67,51±5,058 dan sebagian besar berpendidikan <9 tahun (54,8%). Pendidikan, aktivitas pengasuhan cucu, kualitas pengasuhan cucu, serta jenis aktivitas pengasuhan cucu, yaitu menyiapkan dan/atau menyuapi makanan dan membacakan cerita memiliki hubungan yang bermakna dengan fungsi kognitif global.Diskusi: Aktivitas fisik, sosial dan stimulasi kognitif pada saat mengasuh cucu dapat mencegah terjadinya penurunanfungsi kognitif.Kata kunci: Aktivitas pengasuhan cucu, fungsi kognitif, lanjut usia 

scholarly journals Healing spaces: improving health and wellbeing for the elderly through therapeutic landscape design

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Marques ◽  
Jacqueline McIntosh ◽  
Chelsea Kershaw
Keyword(s):  
Older Persons ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Landscape Design ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Exercise Participation ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Therapeutic Landscape ◽  
Wide Range

Existing research supports a wide range of positive effects for physical, mental and social wellbeing from outdoor exercise, particularly through engagement with nature, however few current landscapes facilitate exercise participation and efficacy for older persons and often require targeted design refinement to foster accessibility, inclusivity and sociability. In order to identify how therapeutic landscape design can be developed to best assist older persons' health and wellbeing, epidemiological data, injury statistics, and currently available outdoor fitness equipment that is specifically marketed for use by older persons were examined. A number of problematic design issues were identified including poor equipment design; failure to integrate cognitive tasks; and minimal integration of safe, age and ability-specific elements. This paper advocates rekindling the connection to public green space in order to foster disability prevention and promote rehabilitation in older persons. The incorporation of design elements that specifically address elements of prevalent morbidities and concerns, such as psychological restoration, stress reduction, attention recovery, the health and wellbeing of older persons in the community could be improved. Age-specific design suggestions include integrating interactive landscapes with ecological regenerative planning to assist with the prevention of common morbidities in older persons.

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