Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2021 Sep 27. doi: 10.1002/gps.5624. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Cognitive training exercises (CTE) are promising and effective interventions to enhance cognitive reserve and slowdown cognitive deterioration in people with subjective memory impairment (SCI) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this pilot study, we aimed to assess the feasibility of CTE among Egyptian adults.
METHODS: Eighteen participants above forty years-old were recruited. They underwent baseline neuropsychological assessment and functional assessment. However, after receiving a 6 weeks’ cognitive training, eight participants (seven with MCI and one was cognitively intact) dropped out from the study. Finally, ten participants (eight participants with MCI, one with SCI and one was cognitively intact) completed twelve weeks of CTE and undergone the post assessment afterwards. CTE included visual, verbal, memory, executive function, visuospatial, attention and psychokinetic exercises through onsite and home-based sessions RESULTS: For the ten participants who completed twelve weeks of CTE, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a statistically significant change in the scores of MMSE (Z= -2.546, p=.011), semantic fluency test (Z= -2.913, p=.004), SMCQ (Z= -2.913, p=.004), CERAD Word List (1st trial: Z = -2.641, p=.008;Word list recall: Z= -2.825, p=.005), construction abilities (immediate: Z= -2.121, p=.034; delayed recall: Z= -2.414, p=.016), and Digit span test (forward: Z= -2.724, p=.006; backward: Z= -2.724, p=.006).
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggested that CTE are feasible among Egyptian adults, especially those with MCI, and potentially effective in enhancing global cognition and after twelve weeks of training. Future research should shed light on the efficacy of longitudinal CTE implementation in Arab adults’ populations. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
PMID:34569644 | DOI:10.1002/gps.5624
