The Role of Individual Characteristics in Predicting Short- and Long-Term Cognitive and Psychological Benefits of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate Dementia

Abstract

Introduction: This study examined the role of individual characteristics in predicting short- and long-term benefits of the Italian version of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST-IT), an evidence-based intervention for people with mild-to-moderate dementia.Materials and Methods: Data were drawn from a sample (N = 123) of people with dementia (PwD) who took part in a multicenter controlled clinical trial of CST-IT. Assessments at pre-test, immediately after completing the treatment, and 3 months later investigated the following outcomes: general cognitive functioning and language, mood and behavior, everyday functioning, and quality of life. Age, education and baseline (pre-test) cognitive functioning, mood (depression) and behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms were considered as predictors of any short- and long-term benefits.Results: Linear mixed-effects models showed that different individual characteristics -particularly education and age- influenced the benefits of CST-IT, depending on the outcome measures considered. Higher education predicted larger gains in general cognitive functioning and, along with less severe depressive symptoms, in language (magnification effects). Older age was associated with positive changes in mood (compensation effects). Albeit very modestly, older age was also associated with larger gains in everyday functioning (compensation effects). Gains in quality of life were predicted by older age and lower education (compensation effects). Baseline cognitive functioning, mood and/or behavioral symptoms broadly influenced performance too, but their role again depended on the outcomes considered.Discussion: These findings underscore the importance of considering and further exploring how psychosocial interventions like CST are affected by individual characteristics in order to maximize their efficacy for PwD.

Improved connectivity and cognition due to cognitive stimulation in Alzheimer’s disease

“…For the obtained data from ADNI, ( n = 7), only imaging data, MMSE, and ADAS-Cog scores were available. The outcome of psychological interventions such as CST have been shown to be affected by individual characteristics particularly age and education ( Carbone et al, 2021 ). Therefore, we ascertained the insignificant difference between the intervention and the control groups on the variables including the baseline MMSE, age and education, the latter serving as a proxy for cognitive reserve (see Table 3 ).…”

Neuroscience-informed classification of prevention interventions in substance use disorders: An RDoC-based approach

“…In another study, participants with impulsivity trait responded better to the inhibitory control interventions, while those with sensation seeking trait were more responsive to the interventions that target positive valence system (Conrod, 2016). These moderating effects reminisce of the compensation and magnification hypotheses that account for degree of benefit that people may gain from cognitive stimulation therapy depending on their baseline characteristics (i.e., pre-training level of cognitive alteration) (Carbone et al, 2022). There is still no published study have applied the RDoC framework to identify high-risk adolescents and examined their responsiveness to an addiction prevention intervention grounded in RDoC-framework.…”

Effects of an outdoor horticultural activities program on cognitive and behavioral functioning, mood, and perceived quality of life in people with dementia: a pilot study

“…A new structured 2-month HA program was developed and its effects on cognitive, behavioral and psychological functioning in PwD, and on the QoL of both the PwD and their caregivers (in terms of distress) were examined. Besides including a TAU control condition, rarely used in this type of intervention, we also made a first attempt to examine whether including elements drawn from other cognitive stimulation programs ( Carbone et al, 2021 ; 2022 ) for dementia could maximize its benefits.…”