scholarly journals C-01 An Evaluative Study of a Cognitive Training Program on Cognitive Outcomes in Older Adults with Moderate to Severe Cognitive Impairment

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1028-1028
Author(s):  
A Dye ◽  
J Gehling ◽  
J Buchanan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Severe Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Limited Effectiveness

Abstract Objective Because medical interventions for persons with dementia have limited effectiveness, there is a need to evaluate non-pharmacological interventions designed to support individuals with cognitive impairment. Cognitive training is a non-pharmacological approach aimed at improving or maintaining cognitive functioning through practice. The current study evaluated the effects of a cognitive training program in older adults with moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Method Data were collected from seven females and one male with a mean age of 83.1 who met criteria for moderate to severe cognitive impairment as defined by a Modified Mini-Mental Status Exam score between 49-77 (M = 54.5). Participants were recruited from two organizations that provide housing and supportive services for older adults with cognitive impairments. Cognitive changes were measured using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status-Update. Results Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were calculated to measure the magnitude of change from pre- to post-intervention. Results indicated no change in the domains of immediate memory (d = -0.08) and attention (d = -0.17). A medium effect size was found in delayed memory (d = 0.68), while large effect sizes were found in language (d = 1.70), visuospatial/constructional (d = 0.89), and the total scale index (d = 1.40). Conclusion The results provide tentative support for the effectiveness of cognitive training in maintaining or improving some cognitive abilities in older adults with moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Further research with larger samples sizes and control groups are necessary to verify these preliminary findings and to determine if benefits generalize to everyday life.

scholarly journals The Effects of Cognitive Training Program for Older Adults: A Brief Preliminary Report

2021 ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Outcome ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Visual Spatial

As one ages, some degree of cognitive decline is expected. Despite this, declines in cognitive abilities and the possibility of dementia is a common concern among older adults. In response to these concerns, a variety of cognitive training programs has been developed that aim to improve or maintain cognitive functioning. Prior literature has shown mixed or limited findings on cognitive changes after implementation of cognitive training. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a cognitive training program designed for older adults with no to minimal cognitive decline. The current study included 17 participants who engaged in two one-hour cognitive training sessions each week for 12 weeks. Each session required participants to complete activities that targeted the following cognitive domains: attention, visual and verbal memory, visual spatial skills, processing speed and executive functioning, and language. These cognitive domains, along with depression and memory self-efficacy, were assessed prior to and immediately after completion of the program. Small to large effect sizes on the majority of cognitive outcome measures were observed following participation in the program. Small reductions in depressive symptoms were also found. These findings provide preliminary support for the use of a comprehensive cognitive training program for cognitively-intact older adults.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of the “Mente Sana [Healthy Mind]” Cognitive Training Program for Older Illiterate Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Geriatrics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Yaneth del Rosario Palo Villegas ◽  
Andrea Elena Pomareda Vera ◽  
María Elena Rojas Zegarra ◽  
M. Dolores Calero
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Aging can lead to functional and cognitive alterations, sometimes limiting older adults in their social development, especially illiterate groups of older adults who receive poor attention from healthcare systems. In this context, the present investigation proposes the cognitive training program “MENTE SANA [HEALTHY MIND]” to improve the cognitive functions of illiterate older adults in Arequipa (Peru). It is a type of quasi-experimental research with a pre-test/post-test design with a homogenous control group. The sample was made up of adults 60 years old and above and of female gender. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test was used to detect the level of cognitive decline in illiterate older adults. The 50-sessions program was applied to all the older adults with mild cognitive impairment that were selected for the study, on a daily basis. It was found that the tested group improved their cognitive functions compared to the control group. These results help to propose adapted cognitive training programs for illiterate people.

scholarly journals Simultaneous Exercise and Cognitive Training in Virtual Reality Phase 2 Pilot Study: Impact on Brain Health and Cognition in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Ashwin Sakhare ◽  
Joy Stradford ◽  
Roshan Ravichandran ◽  
Rong Deng ◽  
Julissa Ruiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Vascular Resistance ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
The Impact

Background: Aerobic exercise and environmental enrichment have been shown to enhance brain function. Virtual reality (VR) is a promising method for combining these activities in a meaningful and ecologically valid way. Objective: The purpose of this Phase 2 pilot study was to calculate relative change and effect sizes to assess the impact of simultaneous exercise and cognitive training in VR on brain health and cognition in older adults. Methods: Twelve cognitively normal older adults (64.7±8.8 years old, 8 female) participated in a 12-week intervention, 3 sessions/week for 25–50 minutes/session at 50–80%HRmax. Participants cycled on a custom-built stationary exercise bike while wearing a VR head-mounted display and navigating novel virtual environments to train spatial memory. Brain and cognitive changes were assessed using MRI imaging and a cognitive battery. Results: Medium effect size (ES) improvements in cerebral flow and brain structure were observed. Pulsatility, a measure of peripheral vascular resistance, decreased 10.5%(ES(d) = 0.47). Total grey matter volume increased 0.73%(ES(r) = 0.38), while thickness of the superior parietal lobule, a region associated with spatial orientation, increased 0.44%(ES(r) = 0.30). Visual memory discrimination related to pattern separation showed a large improvement of 68%(ES(ηp2) = 0.43). Cognitive flexibility (Trail Making Test B) (ES(r) = 0.42) and response inhibition (ES(W) = 0.54) showed medium improvements of 14%and 34%, respectively. Conclusions: Twelve weeks of simultaneous exercise and cognitive training in VR elicits positive changes in brain volume, vascular resistance, memory, and executive function with moderate-to-large effect sizes in our pilot study.

scholarly journals The effects of combined cognitive training on prospective memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifan Chen ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Zijing Hong ◽  
Rongrong Hu ◽  
Zhibin Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Executive Function Training ◽  
Encoding Strategy

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the effects of combined cognitive training on prospective memory ability of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 113 participants were divided into a control group and three intervention groups. Over three months, the control group received only community education without any training, whereas for the first six weeks, an executive function training group received executive function training, a memory strategy training group received semantic encoding strategy training, and the combined cognitive training group received executive function training twice a week for the first six weeks, and semantic encoding strategy training twice a week for the next six weeks. The combined cognitive training group showed improvement on the objective neuropsychological testing (Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale). The memory strategy training group showed improvement on the self-evaluation scales (PRMQ-PM). Combined cognitive training improved the prospective memory and cognitive function of older adults with MCI.

scholarly journals A Short Mindfulness Retreat for Students to Reduce Stress and Promote Self-Compassion: Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial Exploring Both an Indoor and a Natural Outdoor Retreat Setting

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 910
Author(s):  
Dorthe Djernis ◽  
Mia S. O’Toole ◽  
Lone O. Fjorback ◽  
Helle Svenningsen ◽  
Mimi Y. Mehlsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Here, we developed and examined a new way of disseminating mindfulness in nature to people without meditation experience, based on the finding that mindfulness conducted in natural settings may have added benefits. We evaluated a 5-day residential programme aiming to reduce stress and improve mental health outcomes. We compared an indoor and an outdoor version of the programme to a control group in a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT). Sixty Danish university students experiencing moderate to high levels of stress were randomised into a residential mindfulness programme indoors (n = 20), in nature (n = 22), or a control group (n = 18). Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale and the Self-Compassion Scale (primary outcomes) along with additional secondary outcome measures at the start and end of the program and 3 months after. Stress was decreased with small to medium effect sizes post-intervention, although not statistically significant. Self-compassion increased post-intervention, but effect sizes were small and not significant. At follow-up, changes in stress were not significant, however self-compassion increased for both interventions with medium-sized effects. For the intervention groups, medium- to large-sized positive effects on trait mindfulness after a behavioural task were found post-intervention, and small- to medium-sized effects in self-reported mindfulness were seen at follow-up. Connectedness to Nature was the only outcome measure with an incremental effect in nature, exceeding the control with a medium-sized effect at follow-up. All participants in the nature arm completed the intervention, and so did 97% of the participants in all three arms. Overall, the results encourage the conduct of a larger-scale RCT, but only after adjusting some elements of the programme to better fit and take advantage of the potential benefits of the natural environment.

scholarly journals Effects of multi-domain cognitive training on working memory retrieval in older adults: behavioral and ERP evidence from a Chinese community study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangfei Hong ◽  
You Chen ◽  
Jijun Wang ◽  
Yuan Shen ◽  
Qingwei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Baseline Session

AbstractWorking memory (WM) is a fundamental cognitive function that typically declines with age. Previous studies have shown that targeted WM training has the potential to improve WM performance in older adults. In the present study, we investigated whether a multi-domain cognitive training program that was not designed to specifically target WM could improve the behavioral performance and affect the neural activity during WM retrieval in healthy older adults. We assigned healthy older participants (70–78 years old) from a local community into a training group who completed a 3-month multi-domain cognitive training and a control group who only attended health education lectures during the same period. Behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG) data were recorded from participants while performing an untrained delayed match or non-match to category task and a control task at a pre-training baseline session and a post-training follow-up session. Behaviorally, we found that participants in the training group showed a trend toward greater WM performance gains than participants in the control group. Event-related potential (ERP) results suggest that the task-related modulation of P3 during WM retrieval was significantly enhanced at the follow-up session compared with the baseline session, and importantly, this enhancement of P3 modulation was only significant in the training group. Furthermore, no training-related effects were observed for the P2 or N2 component during WM retrieval. These results suggest that the multi-domain cognitive training program that was not designed to specifically target WM is a promising approach to improve WM performance in older adults, and that training-related gains in performance are likely mediated by an enhanced modulation of P3 which might reflect the process of WM updating.

scholarly journals Cognitive Training Program for Thai Older People with Mild Cognitive Impairment

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 42-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achiraya Chaikham ◽  
Supawadee Putthinoi ◽  
Suchitporn Lersilp ◽  
Anuruk Bunpun ◽  
Nopasit Chakpitak
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Older People ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Cognitive Training
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