Cognitive Stimulation Program Presented Through New Technologies in a Group of People with Moderate Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Background: Cognitive stimulation is one of the non-pharmacological therapies recommended for intervention in dementia, consisting of activities involving different cognitive domains and involving brain activation. New technologies can be very useful in this field, favoring intervention tasks. Objective: The objective of this work is to test the effectiveness of a cognitive stimulation intervention mediated with new technologies on a group of people with moderate dementia. Methods: This is a quantitative, quasi-experimental study with a control and treatment group, with three measurement times (pre, post, and follow-up months after the end of the intervention). Ninety-eight subjects with moderate dementia were randomly assigned to the treatment group (N = 50) and the control group (N = 48). The treatment group received 16 intervention sessions including attention, executive function, and memory tasks, which were presented using new technologies and the activity was conducted in a group setting. Control group remained on a waiting list. The evaluators did not know which group each subject belonged to. All participants were assessed with a battery of neuropsychological tests. Results: The results show an improvement in post-intervention outcomes in the treatment group compared to the control group on cognitive variables. No differences were found in mood depression. These results fade overtime after a few months without intervention. Conclusion: This type of intervention is useful to maintain cognitive functioning using new technologies and in a group setting, which favors the intervention. The improvements of the intervention disappear at follow-up, which would indicate the need to maintain the intervention over time.

Development of a Cognitive Training Support Programme for prevention of dementia and cognitive decline in at-risk older adults

“…Cognitive stimulation is a broader concept than cognitive training but can also encompass structured cognitive training. While Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) programmes have been developed for people living with dementia and are recommended as a non-pharmacological intervention (Gonzalez-Moreno et al, 2022a , b ), CST for cognitively healthy or mild cognitive impairment is not readily available.…”

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Intervention in Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Follow-Up

“…These findings underscore the significance of accounting for patients' cognitive reserves and advocating for combined treatment strategies. Such strategies should not only involve electrical stimulation but also incorporate training and cognitive stimulation to bolster the cognitive functions that patients can still maintain [40,41].…”

The Importance of Technology in the Combined Interventions of Cognitive Stimulation and Physical Activity in Cognitive Function in the Elderly: A Systematic Review

“…It was more advantageous to administer cognitive training and physical activity simultaneously than alone [33]. Combining physical exercise with cognitive stimulation is a more successful strategy [25]. Both cognitive stimulation and physical training induce changes in the brain function and structure of healthy elderly people, namely in the functioning of the frontal lobe and in the increase in white matter in the frontal and parietal regions [58].…”

“…Exergaming can be very useful in cognitive stimulation, favoring intervention tasks [25]. According to some studies, the combination of physical activity and cognitive stimulation using exergaming seems to be an effective strategy in the long term.…”