The Effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation on Improving the Selective Attention in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation on improving selective attention in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: It was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and posttest. The population in this study was all individuals referred to a neurology clinic in Tehran in 2012. The group was comprised of 40 patients with mild cognitive impairment who were evaluated with early detection and assessment by a medical psychologist (MMSE score lower than 25 and Wechsler memory test) and were selected by available sampling. They were also older than 55 years and had a minimum education at degree level, together with a lack of neurological and psychiatric comorbidities and impaired sensory and motor retardation, according to their nursing history and medical records. They were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (20 patients in each group). The experimental group was given 12 sessions (two hours each section) of cognitive rehabilitation with Neurocognitive Joyful Attentive Training Intervention (NEJATI). The control group, as expected with this group, did not receive any trial period. The selective attention of both groups was evaluated, before and after receiving intervention, by a Strop computer programme. Data were analysed using the covariance statistical test, MANCOVA. Results: The results show an increase in selective attention scores in the experimental group compared with the control group. Therefore, we can conclude that cognitive rehabilitation leads to improvement in the performance of selective attention (F = 4/97; sig < 0/05). Conclusion: Cognitive rehabilitation can impact on improving selective focus in people with mild cognitive impairment.

The Experience of Paid Family-Care Workers of People with Dementia in South Korea

“…Poor behavior management skills such as using swearing words to the care recipient were identified in the study and were related to subjective burden. The finding supported previous studies that lack of understanding of dementia among care workers was associated with higher levels of distress and caregiver burden [23].…”

“…It is strongly suggested in the literature that carers' direct, clear, and nonthreatening language is the most appropriate and effective way to approach people with dementia and to prevent BPSD [23]. Paid family-care workers need to be equipped with knowledge and skills through education and training to manage BPSD [23]. Poor behavior management skills such as using swearing words to the care recipient were identified in the study and were related to subjective burden.…”

“…Paid family-care workers in this study mentioned that their care recipients had more than one of the aforementioned symptoms. It is strongly suggested in the literature that carers' direct, clear, and nonthreatening language is the most appropriate and effective way to approach people with dementia and to prevent BPSD [23]. Paid family-care workers need to be equipped with knowledge and skills through education and training to manage BPSD [23].…”

Effect of Cognitive Rehabilitation on Set-Shifting Attention of Adult with Mild Cognitive Impairment

“…Table 1 represents the significant differences between each group in terms of increases in the correct responses, the number of Sets Completed, and the reduction in the perseveration error in the experimental group. Thus, it can be stated that cognitive rehabilitation is potentially effective in recovering the shifting attention function in MCI individuals, which is inconsistent with many research findings (Cipriani et al, 2006;Rozzini et al, 2007;Talassi et al, 2007;Herrera et al, 2012;Shomali Oskoei et al, 2013;Amini et al, 2010). …”

“…It is shown that training in the form of a cognitive 12-week rehabilitation program not only reduces cognitive, attention, and memory problems, but also can be effective with a 6-week follow-up program; after six months training, the attention and cognitive stimulant activities were at the level of a post-test case (Herrera, Chambon, Micheal, Paban, & Alescio-Lautier, 2012). Also, cognitive rehabilitation is effective for recovering selective attention in people with an MCI disorder (Shomali Oskoei, Nejati, & Ajilchi, 2013). A study of eight patients with mild and moderate Alzheimer's showed that the intervention in the form of memory and attention rehabilitation measures reduced cognitive deficits in elderly individuals with dementia cognitive impairments (Amini, Dowlatshahi, Dadkhah, & Lotfi, 2010).…”