Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Memory Decline

Abstract

Non-pharmacological intervention of memory difficulties in healthy older adults, as well as those with brain damage and neurodegenerative disorders, has gained much attention in recent years. The two main reasons that explain this growing interest in memory rehabilitation are the limited efficacy of current drug therapies and the plasticity of the human central nervous and the discovery that during aging, the connections in the brain are not fixed but retain the capacity to change with learning. Moreover, several studies have reported enhanced cognitive performance in patients with neurological disease, following non-invasive brain stimulation [i.e., repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation to specific cortical areas]. The present review provides an overview of memory rehabilitation in individuals with mild cognitive impairment and in patients with Alzheimer’s disease with particular regard to cognitive rehabilitation interventions focused on memory and non-invasive brain stimulation. Reviewed data suggest that in patients with memory deficits, memory intervention therapy could lead to performance improvements in memory, nevertheless further studies need to be conducted in order to establish the real value of this approach.

Cognitive Rehabilitation of Memory for Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Methodological Review and Model for Future Research

“…We reviewed and summarized the primary research articles from each of the eight previous reviews and meta-analytic studies noted above (Belleville, 2008;Cotelli et al, 2012;Huckans et al, 2013;Li et al, 2011;Reijnders et al, 2013;Simon et al, 2012;Stott & Spector, 2011). This resulted in 29 studies, 1 of which was excluded because it was written in Chinese (Chen et al, 2008).…”

“…It is important to note that these conclusions rested on only three studies that used a wide variety of techniques. Over the past 3 years, there have been at least seven reviews (Belleville, 2008;Cotelli, Menenti, Zanetti, & Miniussi, 2012;Huckans et al, 2013;Jean, Bergeron, Thivierge, & Simard, 2010;Reijnders, van Heugten, & van Boxtel, 2013;Simon, Yokomizo, & Bottino, 2012;Stott & Spector, 2011) and one meta-analysis (Li et al, 2011) that examined whether the cognitive rehabilitation of memory can be effective in those with MCI. The results of all eight of these works generally indicated that patients could benefit from memory rehabilitation.…”

An overview of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in Alzheimer’s disease

“…In rTMS, several successive pulses are applied rhythmically in the same sequence, and allow the modulation of cortical excitability (Rossi et al, 2009). A frequency is considered to have a low stimulation when it is equal to or above one pulse per second (1 Hz), which fosters inhibitory activity, and to have a high stimulation when it is between 5 Hz and 20 Hz, which causes an increase in cortical excitability (Cotelli, Manenti, Zanetti, & Miniussi, 2012;Higgins, 2008;Hsu, Ku, Zanto & Gazzaley, 2015;Manenti, Cotelli, Robertson & Miniussi, 2012;Nardone et al, 2014).…”

A methodological framework for exploring the applicability of virtual reality in cognitive disabilities care

“…As life expectancy continues to increase, the number of older people unable to live independently and in need of assistance because of age-related cognitive impairments is rapidly rising worldwide (Cotelli, Manenti, Zanetti, & Miniussi, 2012;Grady & Craik, 2000;.…”

“…Memory declines with psychological aging and causes people to experience memory problems (Cotelli et al, 2012;Schmitter-Edgecombe & Woo, 2009 Kwok et al, 2013). Dementia is a progressive degenerative brain syndrome that involves memory impairment in older adults caused by damage to brain cells and their connections.…”