Cognitive functions among healthy older adults using online social networking

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Elif Yildirim ◽  
Hale Ogel-Balaban
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Online Social Networking ◽  
Healthy Older Adults

scholarly journals Online social networking and cognitive performance in older adults: A Greek-Canadian study

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Stephanie Hatzifilalithis ◽  
Elisavet Chrysochoou ◽  
George Pavlidis ◽  
Ana B. Vivas
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Online Social Networking ◽  
Delayed Recall ◽  
The Social ◽  
Gender Education ◽  
The Relationship

The present study examined the relation between cognitive performance and social networking in older adults from Canada and Greece. The two groups were matched on age, gender, education level, and MMSE scores. Participants reported the amount of both off-line and online networking, as well as the social support received in these contexts. Immediate and delayed recall, speed of processing, and executive functioning were also assessed. Online networking was associated with executive functioning. Interestingly, country context didn’t moderate the relationship, despite differences observed between Greeks and Canadians in executive functioning and online networking. Our findings suggest that online social participation could serve both as a source of social support and as cognitive training, benefiting older adults’ cognitive vitality. The findings are discussed in relation to the characteristics of the specific countries, stressing the need to explore the effects of online social networking and participation on cognitive function in the aging population.

scholarly journals EFFECT ASSESSMENT OF A COGNITIVE TRAINING PLATFORM IN HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 1032-1035
Author(s):  
Antonia Yaneva ◽  
Nonka Mateva
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Computerized Cognitive Training ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Traditional Programs

Cognitive interventions, especially cognitive training, may improve cognitive functions in healthy older adults. Computerized cognitive training platforms offer several advantages over traditional programs for cognitive training and stimulation. The focus of this article is the methodology of the studies that apply a particular online training program. We investigate the effectiveness of several studies for cognitive training in healthy elderly people and evaluate reported outcomes and potential bias and what factors determine, influence or contribute to the positive or negative results. The post-intervention scores demonstrate that computerized cognitive training may enhance some cognitive functions and the overall cognitive status but there is need for additional research to prove its effectiveness.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review on the Cognitive Benefits and Neurophysiological Correlates of Exergaming in Healthy Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Stojan ◽  
Claudia Voelcker-Rehage
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Video Gaming ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Cognitive Benefits

Human aging is associated with structural and functional brain deteriorations and a corresponding cognitive decline. Exergaming (i.e., physically active video-gaming) has been supposed to attenuate age-related brain deteriorations and may even improve cognitive functions in healthy older adults. Effects of exergaming, however, vary largely across studies. Moreover, the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms by which exergaming may affect cognitive and brain function are still poorly understood. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the effects of exergame interventions on cognitive outcomes and neurophysiological correlates in healthy older adults (>60 years). After screening 2709 studies (Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Pubmed, Scopus), we found 15 eligible studies, four of which comprised neurophysiological measures. Most studies reported within group improvements in exergamers and favorable interaction effects compared to passive controls. Fewer studies found superior effects of exergaming over physically active control groups and, if so, solely for executive functions. Regarding individual cognitive domains, results showed no consistence. Positive effects on neurophysiological outcomes were present in all respective studies. In summary, exergaming seems to be equally or slightly more effective than other physical interventions on cognitive functions in healthy older adults. Tailored interventions using well-considered exergames and intervention designs, however, may result in more distinct effects on cognitive functions.

Online Social Networking and Mental Health among Older Adults: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Erica Chen ◽  
Devin Wood ◽  
Renate Ysseldyk
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Online Social Networking

Abstract As the number of older adults is expected to increase exponentially within the next few decades, loneliness, social isolation, and depression among seniors are growing public health concerns. Although formal treatment options, such as therapy and medication, can be helpful for depression, they can also be expensive and sometimes ineffective. It is therefore important to consider other potential treatment options and social interventions. Alternative methods for addressing mental health issues are especially important for older adults, as they may encounter barriers associated with aging such as limited mobility and decreased social networks. In these circumstances, online social networking may offer a potential “social cure” to alleviate loneliness, social isolation, and depression. The purpose of this scoping review was to gather and summarize the current literature on associations between online social networking and mental health outcomes (e.g., depression, life satisfaction, loneliness) among older adults. An initial search of 3,699 articles resulted in 52 articles that met criteria for inclusion. Five common themes were identified: (1) enhanced communication with family and friends, (2) greater independence and self-efficacy, (3) creation of online communities, (4) positive associations with well-being and life satisfaction, and (5) decreased depressive symptoms. Implications for older adults’ mental health, social connectedness, programs and policies are discussed.

Partner-Specific Communication Deficits in Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Eun Jin Paek ◽  
Si On Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Referential Communication ◽  
Sorting Task ◽  
Audience Design ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Communication Task ◽  
Design Skills ◽  
Referential Expressions

Purpose Speakers adjust referential expressions to the listeners' knowledge while communicating, a phenomenon called “audience design.” While individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) show difficulties in discourse production, it is unclear whether they exhibit preserved partner-specific audience design. The current study examined if individuals with AD demonstrate partner-specific audience design skills. Method Ten adults with mild-to-moderate AD and 12 healthy older adults performed a referential communication task with two experimenters (E1 and E2). At first, E1 and participants completed an image-sorting task, allowing them to establish shared labels. Then, during testing, both experimenters were present in the room, and participants described images to either E1 or E2 (randomly alternating). Analyses focused on the number of words participants used to describe each image and whether they reused shared labels. Results During testing, participants in both groups produced shorter descriptions when describing familiar images versus new images, demonstrating their ability to learn novel knowledge. When they described familiar images, healthy older adults modified their expressions depending on the current partner's knowledge, producing shorter expressions and more established labels for the knowledgeable partner (E1) versus the naïve partner (E2), but individuals with AD were less likely to do so. Conclusions The current study revealed that both individuals with AD and the control participants were able to acquire novel knowledge, but individuals with AD tended not to flexibly adjust expressions depending on the partner's knowledge state. Conversational inefficiency and difficulties observed in AD may, in part, stem from disrupted audience design skills.

Talk or Walk? Gait Speed over Self-Report in Association with Cognitive Speed in Healthy Older Adults

GeroPsych ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-52
Author(s):  
Matthew C. Costello ◽  
Shane J. Sizemore ◽  
Kimberly E. O’Brien ◽  
Lydia K. Manning
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Subjective Report ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Relative Value ◽  
Cognitive Speed ◽  
Age Range

Abstract. This study explores the relative value of both subjectively reported cognitive speed and gait speed in association with objectively derived cognitive speed. It also explores how these factors are affected by psychological and physical well-being. A group of 90 cognitively healthy older adults ( M = 73.38, SD = 8.06 years, range = 60–89 years) were tested in a three-task cognitive battery to determine objective cognitive speed as well as measures of gait speed, well-being, and subjective cognitive speed. Analyses indicated that gait speed was associated with objective cognitive speed to a greater degree than was subjective report, the latter being more closely related to well-being than to objective cognitive speed. These results were largely invariant across the 30-year age range of our older adult sample.

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