Assessment of Cognitive Training & Social Interaction in People with Mild to Moderate Dementia: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To evaluate the cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and quality of life outcomes of computer-based cognitive training and social interaction on people with mild to moderate dementia.

Methods: Ten individuals with dementia were recruited to complete a cognitive training regimen. They were randomly assigned to a high social interaction (HSI) group (n = 5) and low social interaction (LSI) group (n = 5). Eight of the original 10 participants completed the cognitive training and were evaluated on cognitive abilities, neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), and quality of life (QoL).

Results: Mean scores for the HSI group increased on cognitive assessments, where mean scores for the LSI group saw decline, or stability. There was an overall reduction in the frequency and severity of NPS presentation in both the HSI and LSI group. Mixed results were found for mean changes in QoL.

Discussion: These results support the idea of social interaction influencing cognitive outcomes, cognitive training influencing NPS, and both social interaction and cognitive training influencing QoL. The findings illustrate the feasibility and importance of incorporating social activity to computerized cognitive training for people with dementia.

Clinical Implications: Cognitive training that incorporates social interaction may be a promising intervention for individuals with dementia experiencing NPS.

KEYWORDS:

• Cognitive training
• social interaction
• neuropsychiatric symptoms
• dementia
• quality of life

Clinical Implications

• Cognitive training may be an effective way to manage the neuropsychiatric symptoms typically seen in individuals with mild to moderate dementia.

• Cognitive training is feasible to do with older adults with dementia, and is well-liked.

• Social interactions seem to be an important aspect of maintaining cognitive abilities.

• Long-term care staff may consider implementing socially-engaged cognitive training sessions to their residents’ weekly routines.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the administration of the Coltrane L.I.F.E. Center in North Carolina.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.