Although data suggest that non-pharmacologic therapies such as Reminiscence Therapy (RT) and Cognitive Stimulation (CS) can potentially maintain or reverse this trend, cognitive impairment can be a precursor to neurodegenerative processes. This study aimed to assess how an RT and a CS program affected cognition, depressive symptomatology, and quality of life (QoL) in older persons with cognitive decline who attended community support institutions in central Portugal. For seven weeks, a quasi-experimental study with two arms (RT and CS program) was conducted. The intervention was completed by 76 of the 109 older persons who were first screened (50 in the RT program, 26 in the CS program). In both groups, a pre- and post-intervention analysis revealed statistically significant differences in cognition, particularly in older adults' delayed recall ability.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
106
This intervention was developed during 14 sessions, held twice a week, with a duration of 45 to 60 minutes each. The sessions were developed as group-based interventions, facilitated by a leader and a co-leader from each community institution.
The Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing
Coimbra, Portugal
Change in cognition (person with cognitive decline)
Measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Scale scores vary between 0 and 30 points; higher scores correspond to a higher cognition level.
Time frame: Pre-intervention (baseline)
Change in depressive dymptomatology (person with cognitive decline)
Measured using the 10-items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-10). Scale scores vary between 0 and 10 points; scores equal or above 2 points correspond to a screening diagnosis of depression.
Time frame: Pre-intervention (baseline)
Change in quality of life (person with cognitive decline)
Measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life - module for older adults (WHOQOL-OLD-8). Scale scores vary between 8 and 40 points; higher scores correspond to a higher level of quality of life.
Time frame: Pre-intervention (baseline)
Change in cognition (person with cognitive decline)
Measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Scale scores vary between 0 and 30 points; higher scores correspond to a higher cognition level.
Time frame: 8 weeks post baseline
Change in depressive dymptomatology (person with cognitive decline)
Measured using the 10-items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-10). Scale scores vary between 0 and 10 points; scores equal or above 2 points correspond to a screening diagnosis of depression.
Time frame: 8 weeks post baseline
Change in quality of life (person with cognitive decline)
Measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life - module for older adults (WHOQOL-OLD-8). Scale scores vary between 8 and 40 points; higher scores correspond to a higher level of quality of life.
Time frame: Pre-intervention (baseline), 8 weeks post baseline
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