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Abstract
To investigate the impact of mental aerobics (MA) training on memory-impaired older persons, 14 such individuals were randomly assigned to a 3-week MA intervention (n = 7) stressing the solution of everyday problems in a group context, or to a control condition (n = 7). Analyses of blinded ratings made by staff members responsible for each person's daily care before and after the program indicated that MA program residents' ratings were more likely to improve over time, relative to those of the control group, for interpersonal skills, emotional functioning, cognitive/memory functioning, relationships with staff, and reliance on medications to control behavior or remember things. For everyday activity/involvement and reliance on medications, the effects of MA training were the most substantial. These pilot findings suggest MA has potential in positively impacting cognitively impaired older adults.