Cognitive intervention programmes on patients affected by Mild Cognitive Impairment: A promising intervention tool for MCI?

PurposeThis paper examines and reviews studies on the efficacy of computer-based cognitive intervention programmes in the elderly affected by Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). MCI patients are at higher risk to progress to dementia. Recent effort has been made to slow the cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia in this population.MethodMEDLINE sources were searched with the following subject headings: computer-based cognitive intervention, cognitive stimulation, cognitive training, aging, elderly, cognitive impairment. Selected studies were quality assessed and data extracted by two reviewers.ResultsSeveral studies reported encouraging results on cognitive interventions programmes as a means to improve cognitive abilities and emotional states and to decrease subjective memory complaints in MCI patients.ConclusionThough both traditional and computer-based cognitive intervention programmes seem to be effective, the computer-based ones present more advantages: 1) they could individualize the programme tailored to the patient’s neuropsychological pattern and needs. 2) they permit the user to make an immediate objective comparison with data collected earlier and thus help in setting up a systematic training plan by providing instant value-free feedback. 3) they offer a possibility of a widescale dissemination.

[1]  R. Woods,et al.  Cognitive training and cognitive rehabilitation for people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease: A review , 2004 .

[2]  M. Mega,et al.  The Neuropsychiatric Inventory , 1994, Neurology.

[3]  M. Trabucchi,et al.  Efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in patients with mild cognitive impairment treated with cholinesterase inhibitors , 2007, International journal of geriatric psychiatry.

[4]  C. Jack,et al.  Mild cognitive impairment – beyond controversies, towards a consensus: report of the International Working Group on Mild Cognitive Impairment , 2004, Journal of internal medicine.

[5]  M. Carlson,et al.  Training and Maintaining Memory Abilities in Healthy Older Adults: Traditional and Novel Approaches. , 2007, The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences.

[6]  S. Folstein,et al.  "Mini-mental state". A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. , 1975, Journal of psychiatric research.

[7]  J. Touchon,et al.  Mild cognitive impairment: conceptual basis and current nosological status , 2000, The Lancet.

[8]  S. Katz,et al.  STUDIES OF ILLNESS IN THE AGED. THE INDEX OF ADL: A STANDARDIZED MEASURE OF BIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTION. , 1963, JAMA.

[9]  E. Tangalos,et al.  Mild Cognitive Impairment Clinical Characterization and Outcome , 1999 .

[10]  A P Marsh,et al.  Memory enhancement training for older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A preliminary study , 2002, Aging & mental health.

[11]  D B Reuben,et al.  A Hierarchical Exercise Scale to Measure Function at the Advanced Activities of Daily Living (AADL) Level , 1990, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[12]  M. Trabucchi,et al.  Outcomes of a computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program on Alzheimer's disease patients compared with those on patients affected by mild cognitive impairment. , 2006, Archives of gerontology and geriatrics.

[13]  Marcella Laiacona,et al.  Tre test clinici di ricerca e produzione lessicale , 1986 .

[14]  S. Katz.  Studies of illness in the aged , 1963 .

[15]  L. Clare.  Cognitive training and cognitive rehabilitation for people with early-stage dementia , 2003 .

[16]  E. Capitani,et al.  Trail making test: normative values from 287 normal adult controls , 1996, The Italian Journal of Neurological Sciences.

[17]  G. Kemmler,et al.  Long-term improvements in cognitive performance through computer-assisted cognitive training: A pilot study in a residential home for older people , 2003, Aging & mental health.

[18]  Miia Kivipelto,et al.  Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment: beyond controversies, towards a consensus , 2004 .

[19]  C. Jack,et al.  Mild cognitive impairment can be distinguished from Alzheimer disease and normal aging for clinical trials. , 2004, Archives of neurology.

[20]  J. Ware,et al.  A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey: construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and validity. , 1996, Medical care.

[21]  Sylvie Belleville,et al.  Cognitive training for persons with mild cognitive impairment , 2008, International Psychogeriatrics.

[22]  R. Petersen.  Mild cognitive impairment as a diagnostic entity , 2004, Journal of internal medicine.

[23]  A. Rigaud,et al.  Cognitive stimulation intervention for elders with mild cognitive impairment compared with normal aged subjects: preliminary results , 2007, Aging clinical and experimental research.

[24]  S. Ferris,et al.  Age‐associated memory impairment: Proposed diagnostic criteria and measures of clinical change — report of a national institute of mental health work group , 1986 .

[25]  R. Petersen.  MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT , 2004, Lancet.

[26]  Arthur L. Benton,et al.  Word fluency and brain damage , 1967 .

[27]  M. Lawton,et al.  Assessment of Older People: Self-Maintaining and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living , 1969 .

[28]  D B Reuben,et al.  An Objective Measure of Physical Function of Elderly Outpatients , 1990, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[29]  V. Leirer,et al.  Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: a preliminary report. , 1982, Journal of psychiatric research.

[30]  M. Trabucchi,et al.  Effectiveness of a cognitive rehabilitation program in mild dementia (MD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a case control study. , 2007, Archives of gerontology and geriatrics.

[31]  Sylvie Belleville,et al.  Improvement of Episodic Memory in Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Healthy Older Adults: Evidence from a Cognitive Intervention Program , 2006, Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders.

[32]  P. Osterrieth.  Le test de copie d'une figure complexe , 1944 .

[33]  T del Ser,et al.  Benefits of cognitive-motor intervention in MCI and mild to moderate Alzheimer disease , 2004, Neurology.

[34]  David A Loewenstein,et al.  Nonpharmacological Cognitive Interventions in Aging and Dementia , 2007, Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology.