scholarly journals EFFICACY OF COGNITIVE TRAINING FOCUSED ON DIFFERENT MEMORY SUBSYSTEMS FOR COMMUNITY DWELLING ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina Fernandes ◽  
Henrique da Silva ◽  
Roberta Baradel ◽  
Raquel Fornari ◽  
Patrícia Vanzella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Neuropsychological Battery ◽  
Memory Subsystems ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Cognition And Aging

Background: With the aging process, some memory subsystems as the episodic and working memory change. Cognitive training has been suggested for prevention of cognitive decline but previous studies have conflicting results. Objective: To verify the efficacy of two types of multidimensional cognitive training programs, one focusing on internal strategies to boost episodic memory (EMT) and another based on activities targeting speed processing and working memory (WMT). Methods: One hundred thirty six community dwelling older adults (aged 60 or over and living independently) took part in the study, 76 undertook EMT, 30 undertook WMT and 30 participated in a control program that focused on autobiographical memory (AMT). Training occurred during 8 weekly group sessions of 1,5h. All groups participated in lectures about cognition and aging during the training. They received activities to practice at home. A neuropsychological battery was applied before and after the interventions. Results: ANOVA of repeated measures pointed to significant higher scores in global cognition (ACER), their memory subtest, and in recall score of categorized noun pictures. The interaction showed that the episodic group improved more than the others in the recall of pictures (interaction between group and task p <0,01). Conclusion: The results demonstrated immediate gains after training in specific episodic memory trained skills.

scholarly journals Examining cognitive training and executive function in older adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meggan Porteous ◽  
Sheida Rabipour ◽  
Patrick Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hit Rates ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline ◽  
Back Task

Studies have shown that cognitive functions decline with increasing age. As the population of older adults (OA) has grown, interest in cognitive training programs (CTP) has steadily expanded. The present study investigated whether CTP can lead to improvements in the performance of OA on cognitive tasks. Thirty-five adults (OA; 60-87 years) were recruited to complete 25 sessions of a CTP over five weeks, with assessments completed before and after the program. Thirty-two young adults (YA; 17-27 years) were also recruited to complete one assessment for baseline comparison with OA. During assessments, participants were evaluated using tasks of executive function, including the N-back task of working memory and Flanker task of inhibition. The response time (RT) and hit rates of YA and OA on these tasks were examined at baseline, as well as changes in OA pre- and post-training. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated a reduction of pre- and post-training RT for the Flanker task. There was no post-training change in RT on the N-back task. While OA hit rates did not change significantly pre- and post-assessment on the Flanker task, they showed increased hit rates post-training in the N-back task. In both tasks, OA and YA hit rates and RT were significantly different, with YA demonstrating lower RT and hit rate compared to OA. Follow-up studies will determine whether other factors can also lead to improvement. Determining whether CTP can improve cognitive performance in OA can help determine the potential of such approaches to prevent or rehabilitate age-related cognitive decline.

scholarly journals The Effect of Baseline Performance and Age on Cognitive Training Improvements in Older Adults: A Qualitative Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
J.S. Shaw ◽  
S.M.H. Hosseini
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Baseline Performance

Findings that the brain is capable of plasticity up until old age have led to interest in the use of cognitive training as a potential intervention to delay the onset of dementia. However, individuals participating in training regimens differ greatly with respect to their outcomes, demonstrating the importance of considering individual differences, in particular age and baseline performance in a cognitive domain, when evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive training. In this review, we summarize existing literature on cognitive training in adults across the domains of episodic memory, working memory and the task-switching component of executive functioning to clarify the picture on the impact of age and baseline performance on cognitive training-related improvements. Studies targeting episodic memory induced greater improvements in younger adults with more intact cognitive abilities, explained in part by factors specific to episodic memory training. By contrast, older, lower baseline performance adults improved most in several studies targeting working memory in older individuals as well as in the majority of studies targeting executive functioning, suggesting the preservation of neural plasticity in these domains until very old age. Our findings can have important implications for informing the design of future interventions for enhancing cognitive functions in individuals at the prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s Disease and potentially delaying the clinical onset of Alzheimer’s Disease. Future research should more clearly stratify individuals according to their baseline cognitive abilities and assign specialized, skill-specific cognitive training regimens in order to directly answer the question of how individual differences impact training effectiveness.

Simple and Complex Rule Induction Performance in Young and Older Adults: Contribution of Episodic Memory and Working Memory

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joukje M. Oosterman ◽  
Merle S. Boeschoten ◽  
Paul A.T. Eling ◽  
Roy P.C. Kessels ◽  
Joseph H.R. Maes
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Rule Induction ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Memory Switching ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Neuropsychological Predictors

AbstractThis study tested the hypothesis that part of the age-related decline in performance on executive function tasks is due to a decline in episodic memory. For this, we developed a rule induction task in which we manipulated the involvement of episodic memory and executive control processes; age effects and neuropsychological predictors of task performance were investigated. Twenty-six younger (mean age, 24.0; range, 19–35 years) and 27 community-dwelling older adults (mean age, 67.5; range, 50–91 years) participated. The neuropsychological predictors consisted of the performance on tests of episodic memory, working memory, switching, inhibition and flexibility. Performance of the older adults was worse for the learning and memorization of simple rules, as well as for the more demanding executive control condition requiring the manipulation of informational content. Episodic memory was the only predictor of performance on the simple learning and memorization task condition whereas an increase in rule induction complexity additionally engaged working memory processes. Together, these findings indicate that part of the age-related decline on rule induction tests may be the result of a decline in episodic memory. Further studies are needed that examine the role of episodic memory in other executive function tasks in aging. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–9)

scholarly journals Family Relationships and Cognitive Function Among Community-Dwelling U.S. Chinese Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-46
Author(s):  
Mengting Li ◽  
Man Guo ◽  
Meredith Stensland ◽  
XinQi Dong
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Global Cognition

A broad literature has explored racial disparities in cognitive aging. Research incorporating sociocultural factors would provide a more comprehensive understanding of minority aging. This study aims to investigate the role of family typology in cognition among U.S. Chinese immigrants. Data were derived from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE). Family typology included tight-knit, unobligated ambivalent, commanding conflicted, and detached typologies. Cognition was evaluated by global cognition, episodic memory, working memory, executive function, and mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Linear and quantile regressions were used. Older adults with detached and commanding conflicted typologies reported lower global cognition than those with unobligated ambivalent typology. Detached, commanding conflicted, and tight-knit typologies were associated with poorer performance in episodic memory, working memory and MMSE than unobligated ambivalent typology, respectively. Social service providers could be aware of multifaceted family relationships when developing interventions for cognitive function and understand family typology as a whole.

An integrated program of computer-presented and physical cognitive training exercises for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce E. Wexler ◽  
Lawrence A. Vitulano ◽  
Christina Moore ◽  
Liliya Katsovich ◽  
Stephanie D. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Trial Design ◽  
Experimental Medicine ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Background This study integrated an experimental medicine approach and a randomized cross-over clinical trial design following CONSORT recommendations to evaluate a cognitive training (CT) intervention for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The experimental medicine approach was adopted because of documented pathophysiological heterogeneity within the diagnosis of ADHD. The cross-over design was adopted to provide the intervention for all participants and make maximum use of data. Methods Children (n = 93, mean age 7.3 +/− 1.1 years) with or sub-threshold for ADHD were randomly assigned to CT exercises over 15 weeks, before or after 15 weeks of treatment-as-usual (TAU). Fifteen dropped out of the CT/TAU group and 12 out of the TAU/CT group, leaving 66 for cross-over analysis. Seven in the CT/TAU group completed CT before dropping out making 73 available for experimental medicine analyses. Attention, response inhibition, and working memory were assessed before and after CT and TAU. Results Children were more likely to improve with CT than TAU (27/66 v. 13/66, McNemar p = 0.02). Consistent with the experimental medicine hypotheses, responders improved on all tests of executive function (p = 0.009–0.01) while non-responders improved on none (p = 0.27–0.81). The degree of clinical improvement was predicted by baseline and change scores in focused attention and working memory (p = 0.008). The response rate was higher in inattentive and combined subtypes than hyperactive-impulsive subtype (p = 0.003). Conclusions Targeting cognitive dysfunction decreases clinical symptoms in proportion to improvement in cognition. Inattentive and combined subtypes were more likely to respond, consistent with targeted pathology and clinically relevant heterogeneity within ADHD.

scholarly journals Loneliness Interacts With Cognition in Relation to Healthcare and Financial Decision Making Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (8) ◽  
pp. 1476-1484
Author(s):  
Christopher C Stewart ◽  
Lei Yu ◽  
Crystal M Glover ◽  
Gary Mottola ◽  
David A Bennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Neuropsychological Battery ◽  
Financial Decision Making ◽  
Financial Decision ◽  
Global Cognition ◽  
Social Vulnerabilities ◽  
Design And Methods

Abstract Background and Objectives Cognition is a known determinant of healthcare and financial decision making in old age. Social vulnerabilities also might play a role in such decisions; however, the evidence for this is less clear. Here, we examined the association of loneliness with decision making and tested the hypothesis that loneliness is associated with decision making via its interaction with global cognition. Research Design and Methods Participants were 1,121 nondemented older adults from the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Healthcare and financial decision making was assessed via a performance-based measure; loneliness was assessed via the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale; and cognition was assessed via a 19-test neuropsychological battery. Results In a regression model adjusted for age, sex, and education, global cognition was associated with decision making (B = 2.43, SE = 0.14, p &lt; .001) but loneliness was not (B = −0.04, SE = 0.11, p = .72). However, in a model including the interaction of loneliness with global cognition, the interaction was significant (B = 0.44, SE = 0.20, p = .03), such that the detrimental effect of loneliness on decision making was stronger when cognition was low. In secondary analyses examining the interaction of loneliness with 5 specific cognitive domains, the interaction between loneliness and working memory with decision making was significant (B = 0.35, SE = 0.15, p = .02). Discussion and Implications Our results suggest that loneliness compromises healthcare and financial decision making among older adults with lower global cognition and, more specifically, lower working memory.

scholarly journals P051 SLEEP SPINDLES AND SWA DIFFERENTIALLY CORRELATE WITH OVERNIGHT EPISODIC AND VISUOSPATIAL MEMORY CONSOLIDATION IN OLDER ADULTS WITH AND WITHOUT MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A37-A38
Author(s):  
C Haroutonian ◽  
A D’Rozario ◽  
Z Terpening ◽  
S Lewis ◽  
S Naismith
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Sleep Spindles ◽  
Visuospatial Memory ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Delta Power ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Introduction Sleep microarchitecture disruption is a feature of ageing that is further altered in neurodegenerative disorders. Sleep-memory links in younger adults have been established, however mechanistic pathways of this uncoupling in ageing is poorly understood. Method Our sample consisted of n=46 mild cognitively impaired (MCI) older adults and n=32 cognitively-intact controls who underwent overnight polysomnography and episodic (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning test) and visuospatial (Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure task) memory tasks that were administered before and after sleep. We examined group differences in overnight memory % retention and associations with NREM slow oscillations (SO, 0.25–1 Hz), delta power (0.5–4 Hz), N2 spindle events (occurrence [11–16 Hz] and slow [11–13 Hz] and fast [13–16 Hz] spindle density p/min) and REM theta power (4.5–8 Hz). Results Repeated measures ANCOVA, controlling for age, indicated greater memory scores in Controls compared to MCI on the episodic task, F=6.7 (p=.01), and no group differences in the visuospatial task (F=1.8, p=.17). In Controls, greater delta power was associated with increased episodic memory retention (r=.515, p=.006). In the MCI group, episodic memory was associated with fast spindle density (r=-.352, p=.04), and visuospatial memory was also associated with fast spindle density (r=-.385, p=.01) and spindle occurrence (r=-.479, p=.003). Conclusion Sleep spindles appear to be negatively associated with memory retention, specifically in MCI. However, given the heterogeneity of MCI, further analysis of its cognitive subtypes is warranted. Comprehensive cognitive and neural pathophysiology profiling are required to better delineate the function of spindles in ageing.

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