Language Training Leads to Global Cognitive Improvement in Older Adults: A Preliminary Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 2411-2424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick C. M. Wong ◽  
Jinghua Ou ◽  
Celestina W. Y. Pang ◽  
Ling Zhang ◽  
Chi Shing Tse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Music Appreciation ◽  
Cognitive Improvement ◽  
Cognitive Benefits ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Preliminary Study

Purpose We report a preliminary study that prospectively tests the potential cognitive enhancing effect of foreign language (FL) learning in older adults with no clear signs of cognitive decline beyond what is age typical. Because language learning engages a large brain network that overlaps with the network of cognitive aging, we hypothesized that learning a new language later in life would be beneficial. Method Older adults were randomly assigned to 3 training groups: FL, games, and music appreciation. All were trained predominately by a computer-based program for 6 months, and their cognitive abilities were tested before, immediately after, and 3 months after training. Results FL and games, but not music appreciation, improved overall cognitive abilities that were maintained at 3 months after training. Conclusion This is the 1st randomized control study providing preliminary support for the cognitive benefits of FL learning.

scholarly journals Computerized Training for Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Improvement

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Marios A. Pappas ◽  
Athanasios S. Drigas
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Training Techniques ◽  
Cognitive Improvement ◽  
Computerized Training ◽  
Tech Nologies ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Computer Based

The research area of brain plasticity studies indicates that individuals can train and improve their cognitive abilities throughout life. In addition, more and more computerized training tools are presented in recent studies. The purpose of this study is to represent studies of the last decade in the field of cognitive training with the use of Information and Communication Tech-nologies, to record the cognitive improvement techniques used, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of these intervention programs. As indicated by the literature review, computer-based tools, mobile training apps and video games could be used in intervention studies for cognitive improve-ment. In addition, cognitive training techniques seem to be significantly ef-fective for the cognitive improvement of healthy or cognitive impaired in-dividuals.

scholarly journals Positive Effects of Openness on Cognitive Aging in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A 13-Year Longitudinal Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 2072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukiko Nishita ◽  
Chikako Tange ◽  
Makiko Tomida ◽  
Rei Otsuka ◽  
Fujiko Ando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Picture Completion

The relationship between openness (a psychological trait of curiosity) and a cognitive change was examined in middle-aged and older adults. Participants were 2214 men and women (baseline age range: 40 to 81 years). They were tested up to seven times over approximately 13 years. Openness at the baseline was assessed by the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Cognitive abilities were assessed at each examination using the Wechsler adult intelligence scale-revised short form, which includes information, similarities, picture completion, and digit symbol subscales. General linear mixed models comprised fixed effects of openness, age at the baseline, follow-up time, their interactions, and the covariates. The results indicated that the main effects of openness were significant for all scores. Moreover, the interaction term openness × age × time was significant for the information and similarities test scores, indicating that changes in the information and similarities scores differed depending on the level of openness and baseline age. The estimated trajectory indicated that the differences in slopes between participants with high and low openness were significant after 60 years of age for the information, and after 65 years of age for the similarities scores. It is concluded that openness has a protective effect on the decline in general knowledge and logical abstract thinking in old age.

The Relevance of Cognitive Aging Research to Warning Label Design

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 1368-1368
Author(s):  
Gabriel K. Rousseau ◽  
Nina Lamson ◽  
Wendy A. Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Color Discrimination ◽  
Warning Label ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Individual Difference Variables ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Age Related Changes

A variety of individual difference variables affect whether someone notices, encodes, comprehends, and complies with a product warning label. Failures at any of these stages reduce the effectiveness of warnings. Development of effective warnings must be based on understanding the characteristics of the product user. As the population grows older, consideration of age-related changes in perceptual and cognitive abilities becomes more relevant to the warning designer. Aging researchers have identified a variety of declines and changes in vision (e.g., acuity, contrast sensitivity, and color discrimination) and memory (e.g., working memory and prospective memory). By considering the abilities of the product user, the impact of age-related changes may be minimized. Based on cognitive aging research and theory, we will make recommendations about how designers can increase the effectiveness of warnings for older adults.

scholarly journals Cognitive plasticity of inhibition in older adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea J. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Central Importance ◽  
Slow Speed ◽  
Adaptive Feedback ◽  
Cognitive Plasticity ◽  
Performance Gains ◽  
Inhibition Training

Cognitive plasticity has been well documented in the cognitive aging literature; however, little work has been done to investigate the plasticity of inhibition among older adults. Inhibition functions to keep irrelevant information outside the focus of attention, and has been demonstrated to be of central importance to a variety of cognitive abilities known to decline with normal aging (Hasher et al., 2007). Using the Stroop task (Stroop, 1935), 28 older adults were trained across six sessions. Participants were randomly assigned to two feedback groups: summary feedback (SF) and individualized and adaptive feedback (IAF), to evaluate whether the type of feedback provided during training impacted performance gains. Findings indicated that older adults had improved inhibitory performance across sessions regardless of the type of feedback received. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that individuals with slow speed of processing and low executive control benefited the most from inhibition training.

scholarly journals Fronto-parietal Network Segregation Predicts Maintained Cognition in the Cognitively Healthy Oldest-old (85+): evidence for dedifferentiation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara A Sims ◽  
Mary E Faulkner ◽  
Paul Stewart ◽  
Stacy Merritt ◽  
Roxanne F Rezaei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Brain Aging ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Network Metrics ◽  
Future Work

The understanding of brain network interactions in cognitively healthy older adults informs how brain characteristics vary as individuals age and how these variations affect cognitive functioning. A functional connectivity analysis can reveal important insight into the brain's organization, which is crucial to examining cognitive aging. We investigated functional network properties in 146 cognitively healthy participants aged 85+ in the McKnight Brain Aging Registry. We found that the segregation of the cortical association system and the segregation of the fronto-parietal network (FPN) were stronger predictors of cognition and executive function. Compared to other network metrics, the segregation of networks may be more closely linked with cognitive performance and age-related dedifferentiation. We also provide a healthy oldest-old (85+) cortical parcellation that can be used in future work in this age group. This study shows that network segregation of the oldest-old brain supports cognition. Specifically, the FPN plays an important role in supporting overall cognition and executive function in an aging population. By studying network dynamics and cognitive abilities of healthy brain aging, we advance the literature on dedifferentiation in the oldest-old.

Multilingualism in older age: A research agenda from the cognitive perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica G. Cox
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Cognitive Perspective ◽  
Language And Cognition

AbstractCalls to diversify second language acquisition (SLA) (e.g., Ortega, 2013) have led to increased interest in multilingualism and inclusion of groups less represented in samples of university students, such as individuals at older ages. Nevertheless, we still have more questions than we do answers. This article outlines a research agenda targeting older adult language learning and multilinguals at older ages, both in and beyond the classroom. Since a key difference between young and older adults is cognitive aging, I follow a cognitive approach, focusing on how individual differences in cognition may affect language and vice versa, and how relevant sociocultural factors add to the interplay between language and cognition. Notably, this is not always a story of decline and deficits, but instead of both strengths and weaknesses that differ from those of young adults.

A theoretical framework for using humor to reduce the effects of chronic stress on cognitive function in older adults: An integration of findings and methods from diverse areas of psychology

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-71
Author(s):  
Sasha Mallya ◽  
Maureen Reed ◽  
Lixia Yang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Low Complexity ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Daily Stressors ◽  
Physiological Stress Response ◽  
Response Systems

AbstractThis paper synthesizes the literature on cognitive aging, emotion regulation, and humor, to provide a theoretical framework for the utility of humor in promoting successful cognitive aging. Many older adults experience some degree of cognitive decline, which is associated with reductions in functional status, independence, and overall quality of life. These losses can result in considerable stress that is chronic in nature. The following discussion proposes humor as a technique that older adults may use to reduce stress and protect cognitive abilities. Humor here is described as a form of cognitive reappraisal, allowing older adults to reappraise daily stressors. Further, it is speculated that humor’s protective value is in the reduction of chronic activation of the physiological stress response systems, which in turn may protect functional integrity of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Because older adults appear to have difficulty solving more complex jokes, we propose that low complexity, self-enhancing humor may be the most useful form of humor for older adults.

The Effectiveness of Design Interventions in Improving the Ability of Older People to Perform Computer-Based Work

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara J. Czaja ◽  
Joseph Sharit ◽  
Sankaran Nair
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Interface Design ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
The Impact

The objective of the current research was to evaluate the impact of age on the performance of computer-based work in order to develop design interventions that enhance the ability of older adults to perform these tasks. Specifically, two computer tasks, data entry, and a complex problem solving were investigated. Participants ranged in age from 20–75 years. Overall, the results indicted age differences in performance of both tasks. The younger participants had higher levels of performance Further, the results indicated that age-related differences in component cognitive abilities were related to performance. These data were used to develop design interventions such as modifying the layout of screen information. This paper presents data from the intervention studies. Overall the findings indicate that the interventions improved performance for all participants. For example, there were fewer keystroke errors for the data entry task and problem solving time was reduced for the problem solving task. These data are discussed in terms of understanding the extent to which fundamental interface design interventions can benefit older adults.

scholarly journals Does Second Language Learning Promote Neuroplasticity in Aging? A Systematic Review of Cognitive and Neuroimaging Studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Ware ◽  
Sophie Dautricourt ◽  
Julie Gonneaud ◽  
Gael Chételat
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Second Language Learning ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Brain Structure And Function ◽  
And Function

As the population ages, understanding how to maintain older adults' cognitive abilities is essential. Bilingualism has been linked to higher cognitive reserve, better performance in executive control, changes in brain structure and function relative to monolinguals, and delay in dementia onset. Learning a second language thus seems a promising avenue for cognitive enhancement in older adults. Our review aims to determine whether learning a foreign language in later life improves cognition and promotes neuroplasticity. We screened articles from the Pubmed, Scopus, and Science Direct databases to identify interventional studies using second language training in senior participants, including either cognition or neuroimaging as outcome measures. A total of nine articles were found, with only one neuroimaging study. Results from these studies are inconsistent, but tend to suggest that second language learning is associated with improvement in attentional switching, inhibition, working memory, and increased functional connectivity. We discuss the implications of these results, and suggest new directions and methodological recommendations for future research.

scholarly journals Cognitive Interventions Among Older Adults

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
GRAHAM J. MCDOUGALL
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Memory Training ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Cognitive Improvement ◽  
Memory Improvement

This chapter reviews psychoeducational and/or psychosocial interventions designed to improve cognitive function in adults without cognitive impairment. Included are sections on (a) meta-analyses and other reviews; (b) cognitive aging and cognitive improvement; (c) memory training; (d) depression and memory improvement; (e) self-efficacy and aging memory; (f) maintenance of gains and subject retention; (g) comprehensive memory improvement program; and (h) future research. Several aspects of memory training now known to influence outcomes, i.e., memory performance, need to be considered in future studies. First, follow-up instruction (booster sessions) facilitates the use of these newly learned memory strategies in elders’ everyday lives. Second, elders’ memory self-efficacy (beliefs and confidence) impacts performance. Third, the inclusion of subjective measures in memory training is recommended. Fourth, greater emphasis needs to be placed on the modification of participants’ attitudes toward aging-related memory loss. Fifth, designs must emphasize the long-term outcomes of the memory training. Sixth, establishing a relationship between a memory intervention and functional ability (IADLs) is the next step in assisting older adults to remain independent. If early failure in cognitive ability can be improved through intervention, perhaps early decline in functional independence and the need for formal services, e.g., nursing home placement, can be delayed.

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