Estudio piloto de un nuevo método de estimulación aritmética empleando el ábaco en ancianos sanos y con trastorno cognitivo

Abstract

The study suggests that cognitive stimulation with abacus arithmetic may be used in elderly people with and without cognitive impairment. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the efficacy of this kind of programmes.

Cognitive stimulation program in mild cognitive impairment A randomized controlled trial

“…8 A number of studies based on cognitive stimulation have shown improvements in cognitive function in healthy older people, elderly with MCI and with dementia. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] The findings of Alves et al 15 suggest that cognitive stimulation can lead to high values of experiential relevance, even in the absence of cognitive or functional improvements. The study of Schultheisz et al 16 supports cognitive stimulation programs as a resource for improving cognition and quality of life for the elderly.…”

Cognitive training using the abacus: a literature review study on the benefits for different age groups

“…participants first learn how to manipulate the abacus and, after achieving proficiency, perform calculations using a mental image of the device, manipulating the beads of the mental abacus (MA). 20 One of the included studies 22 also applied a task using a physical abacus (PA). Seven studies showed an association between WM and AMC training.…”

“…A total of 8 eligible studies were retrieved, whose objectives included investigating the effect of WM, 16,28,32 arithmetic performance, 16,28,29 short-term memory, 31 executive functions and underlying brain activity 17 and on brain networks, 28 and to determine the applicability of abacus use as a method of cognitive stimulation for older adults. 22 Cognitive training using abacus in children All 6 studies involving samples of children performed AMC interventions, in which a PA was used at only one stage to aid learning of AMC. 20,21,28,30 Five articles showed that AMC training promoted improved arithmetic skills.…”

“…19 In addition, studies on abacus training in children have shown evidence of benefits in learning performance, in the orientation ability of visuospatial attention WM, in attention and comprehensive arithmetic abilities, an also in response inhibition through neuroanatomical changes in areas governing these functions. 20,21 In the literature, the pioneering study of Matías-Guiu et al 22 assessed a cognitive stimulation method based on abacus arithmetic calculations in the elderly population. Study participants aged ≥65 years were divided into 3 groups: healthy elderly (n=6), elderly with MCI (n=6) and elderly diagnosed with Alzheimer´s Disease (AD) (n=8).…”

Analysis of the effect of cognitive stimulation program in older adults with normal cognition: randomized clinical trial

“…Diversos estudios nacionales [19][20][21][22] e internacionales [23][24][25][26][27] han demostrado beneficios cognitivos significativos en el campo del envejecimiento normal que pueden deberse en parte a la capacidad de reserva cognitiva 28 . Otros estudios han analizado la transferencia de su programa sobre la esfera emocional [19][20][21][22][29][30][31][32] y han investigado cómo influyen las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas neuropsiquiátricas sobre el mismo 19,21,22,29,31 .…”