Contribuições de um treino cognitivo para a memória de idosos institucionalizados

Desenvolvimento de um programa de treino cognitivo online para idosos saudáveis: uma intervenção da terapia ocupacional

Resumo Introdução Com base no envelhecimento natural e suas características no que se refere à cognição e às especificidades da terapia ocupacional, o treino cognitivo apresenta-se como estratégia de promoção da saúde para favorecer o engajamento em ocupações e, principalmente, melhorar ou manter as habilidades cognitivas, que podem sofrer declínio conforme o indivíduo envelhece. Objetivo Descrever um programa de treino cognitivo on-line quanto ao seu formato e atividades que o compõem, bem como analisar as percepções dos idosos participantes e das discentes envolvidas em seu desenvolvimento. Método Estudo qualitativo de delineamento exploratório. Foram elaboradas tarefas cognitivas distribuídas em 24 sessões de treino individual on-line, multidomínio, com duração de 90 minutos cada. Foram utilizadas atividades com lápis e papel e a intervenção foi adaptada e graduada de acordo com o ritmo dos participantes. Os 21 idosos que receberam o treino foram avaliados, pré- e pós-intervenção, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e foram confeccionados diários de campo. Resultados Após a intervenção, os idosos participantes relataram uso de diferentes estratégias compensatórias internas e externas e apontaram melhora na percepção de qualidade de vida e do desempenho ocupacional. As discentes puderam envolver-se na construção de um protocolo de treino cognitivo durante o período de pandemia, com superação de barreiras no âmbito do teleatendimento, buscando através dele favorecer o desempenho funcional e cognitivo dos participantes para o envelhecimento saudável. Conclusão Os resultados apontaram efeitos positivos do treino cognitivo para os participantes, mas ainda há necessidade de refinamento do protocolo para se atingir melhores resultados. A análise das atividades aplicadas mostrou-se fundamental para sistematizar as sessões e acompanhar o desempenho dos participantes.

Development of an online cognitive training program for healthy older adults: an occupational therapy intervention

Abstract Introduction Based on natural aging and its characteristics regarding cognition and the specificities of Occupational Therapy, cognitive training is a health promotion strategy used to favor engagement in occupations and, mainly, improve or maintain cognitive skills, which may decline with aging. Objective To describe an on-line cognitive training program regarding its format and composing activities, as well as to analyze the perceptions of the participating older people and students involved in its development. Method This is an exploratory qualitative study. Cognitive tasks were distributed in 24 individual, multidomain, online training sessions lasting 90 minutes each. Activities with pencil and paper were used, and the intervention was adapted and graded according to the rhythm of the participants. The 21 older people who received the training were evaluated pre and post-intervention using semi-structured interviews, and field diaries were prepared. Results The older participants reported having made use of different internal and external compensatory strategies and indicated improvement in their quality of life perception and occupational performance. The students were able to get involved in the construction of a protocol during the pandemic period, overcoming barriers in the context of remote assistance, which was used to maintain or improve the functional and cognitive performance of the participants, thus favoring healthy aging. Conclusion The results showed that cognitive training had a positive impact on the participants, but there is still a need to refine the protocol to achieve better results. The analysis of the activities conducted proved to be fundamental to systematize the sessions and monitor the performance of the participants.

Effects of language stimulation on cognition of institutionalized aged people: a preliminary case series study

Cognitive stimulation programs for institutionalized elderly people show positive results, however few studies have investigated the effectiveness of language stimulation programs for the health of this population.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the cognitive-linguistic profile of institutionalized elderly and to compare their performance before and after a language stimulation program (LSP).

METHODS

An exploratory case series study was conducted with nine residents of a Home for the Aged. Elderly people aged 60 or over, of both sexes, without neurological or neuropsychiatric diseases, communication disorders, intellectual impairment or severe visual or hearing impairment were included. The participants were submitted to an initial assessment through the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Montreal Toulouse Battery Language Assessment - Brazil to characterize the cognitive-linguistic profile of the studied group. Five elderly were selected to participate in the LSP, of wich only two participated effectively in the program, but all were reassessed after the program was completed.

RESULTS

on the initial assessment, of the nine participants, only one had adequate cognitive performance and all presented changes in macro and/or microlinguistics aspects of oral discourse, with oral comprehension preserved. On the reassessment carried out with five participants, only two participants who adhered effectively to the program obtained improvements in MoCa scores. In regarding language, three participants performed better in the oral emission measures. The performance of the participants in oral comprehension remained or declined.

CONCLUSION

The speech-language therapy intervention through a LSP contributes to improving the cognitive-linguistic performance of institutionalized elderly.

Cognitive interventions and performance measures: a longitudinal study in elderly women

Abstract Several types of cognitive interventions have been performed with elderly individuals to verify physical and quality of life benefits. The objective of this study was to verify if the cognitive gains found in two cognitive intervention programs are related to changes in the mood, quality of life and physical fitness variables (maximum oxygen consumption, lean mass, fat percentage and handgrip strength). A total of 39 elderly women from the Distrito Federal (Brazil), participating in a cognitive training group based on mnemonic strategies and a group of cognitive stimulation based on perceptual and attention exercises. Both groups showed a tendency to reduce depressive symptoms, an increase in their fat mass and a decrease in their lean mass. Taken together, these findings may contribute to identify the directionality of mnemonic interventions in Brazilian elderly individuals regarding the subjective and physical performance variables.

Episodic Memory and Elderly People: Main Alterations from Different Cognitive Interventions

Abstract Aging entails many cognitive changes, including episodic memory, which may be potentiated depending on the lifestyle of the elderly person and stimulated through cognitive interventions. The objective of this study was to verify whether there are differences in episodic memory and mood in different interventions. A total of 46 elderly people, of both sexes, with an average age of 68.7 years (SD = ± 6.82) participated in the study, being divided in two groups, stimulation (Stimullus = 21) and training (MEMO = 25), and tests of diagnostic and memory measures were applied before and after intervention. A difference in episodic memory was observed between the interventions, as well as an improvement in their mood, regardless of the type of intervention.

Development of a cognitive training program for the elderly

Abstract Introduction: Plasticity in intellectual functioning has been the target of significant research investment. Among non-pharmacological interventions, cognitive training appears as a promising option for delaying the effects of aging on cognition. Objective: The present study describes the procedures of a cognitive training program for healthy Brazilian elderly persons (without diagnosis of dementia). Method: Cognitive tasks for the training of attention, processing speed, episodic memory and working memory were carried out. The program training was performed over 12 individual sessions, and included an Instruction Book, a Stimulus Book and Protocol Record. To assess the effects of training, five subtests of the WAIS-III test were used: Picture completion, Coding, Arithmetic, Matrix Reasoning and Digit Span. The cognitive training program was tested with 15 individuals, divided into an experimental group (EG), which received training, and a control group (CG). The EG was formed of seven participants, aged between 70 and 82 years (M=73.57, SD=4.11) and with an average schooling of 5.8 years (SD=1.02). The CG was formed by 8 participants, aged 69-77 years (M=74.00, SD=4.58), and who had an average schooling of 2.88 years (SD=2.58). Results: Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a training effect for three subtests: Coding: [F(1)=5.40, p=0.03, η2G=0.09], Arithmetic [F(1)=9.03, p=0.01, η2G=0.004] and Picture completion [F(1)=8.01, p=0.01, η2G=0.19]. There were no gain effects for Matrix Reasoning [F(1)=1.43, p=0.25] and Digit Span [F(1)=10.04, p<0.001]. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study show the importance of testing the impact of cognitive training through a randomized clinical trial to verify its effects on the mental performance of older adults. The importance of greater disclosure in literature of the construction procedures involved in cognitive training tasks, as well as the formulation of intervention strategies, is highlighted.