Learned strategies can help older adults in everyday life
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cognitive training improves memory in older patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to a study published online Jan. 4 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Sylvie Belleville, Ph.D., from Université de Montreal, and colleagues randomized 145 older adults meeting criteria for amnestic MCI to cognitive training, a psychosocial intervention, or a no-contact control condition. Outcome measurements included immediate and delayed composite memory scores, psychological health, and generalization effects of the intervention.
The researchers found that participants in the cognitive training group improved on the delayed composite memory score and on strategy use in everyday life. These improvements were maintained at the three- and six-month follow-up assessments. There were no significant improvements among participants in the psychosocial and no-contact conditions.
“Cognitive training is a valid way to promote cognition in MCI,” the authors write.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry and/or cognitive training programs.
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