scholarly journals The Effect of Baseline Performance and Age on Cognitive Training Improvements in Older Adults: A Qualitative Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
J.S. Shaw ◽  
S.M.H. Hosseini
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Baseline Performance

Findings that the brain is capable of plasticity up until old age have led to interest in the use of cognitive training as a potential intervention to delay the onset of dementia. However, individuals participating in training regimens differ greatly with respect to their outcomes, demonstrating the importance of considering individual differences, in particular age and baseline performance in a cognitive domain, when evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive training. In this review, we summarize existing literature on cognitive training in adults across the domains of episodic memory, working memory and the task-switching component of executive functioning to clarify the picture on the impact of age and baseline performance on cognitive training-related improvements. Studies targeting episodic memory induced greater improvements in younger adults with more intact cognitive abilities, explained in part by factors specific to episodic memory training. By contrast, older, lower baseline performance adults improved most in several studies targeting working memory in older individuals as well as in the majority of studies targeting executive functioning, suggesting the preservation of neural plasticity in these domains until very old age. Our findings can have important implications for informing the design of future interventions for enhancing cognitive functions in individuals at the prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s Disease and potentially delaying the clinical onset of Alzheimer’s Disease. Future research should more clearly stratify individuals according to their baseline cognitive abilities and assign specialized, skill-specific cognitive training regimens in order to directly answer the question of how individual differences impact training effectiveness.

Apraxic and Action-Intentional Disorders Associated With Vascular and Degenerative Dementing Diseases

2020 ◽  
pp. 146-184
Author(s):  
Kenneth M. Heilman
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Vascular Dementia ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Word Fluency ◽  
Letter Word ◽  
The Brain

“Actions speak louder than words.” Although clinician’s behavioral evaluations of dementia most often include assessing episodic memory, declarative memories (e.g., naming and calculating), and executive functions (working memory, letter–word fluency), one of the most important functions of the brain is programing actions, including “how” to move and “when” to move. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and other forms of dementia often have impairments in the systems that mediate these how-apraxic and when-intentional behaviors. Although the presence of these apraxic and action-intentional disorders may help with diagnosis and help doctors gain a better understand these patients’ disability, these functions are rarely tested and are often not well understood. The goal of this chapter is to describe the signs of the various types of apraxic disorders (limb-kinetic, ideomotor, conceptual, ideational, and dissociation) and well as action-intentional disorders (akinesia-hypokinesia, impersistence, perseveration, and defective response inhibition), how to test for these disorders, and their pathophysiology.

scholarly journals Adaptive working memory strategy training in early Alzheimer's disease: Randomised controlled trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 210 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Huntley ◽  
A. Hampshire ◽  
D. Bor ◽  
A. Owen ◽  
R. J. Howard
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Early Alzheimer’S Disease

BackgroundInterventions that improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease are urgently required.AimsTo assess whether a novel cognitive training paradigm based on ‘chunking’ improves working memory and general cognitive function, and is associated with reorganisation of functional activity in prefrontal and parietal cortices (trial registration: ISRCTN43007027).MethodThirty patients with mild Alzheimer's disease were randomly allocated to receive 18 sessions of 30 min of either adaptive chunking training or an active control intervention over approximately 8 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were also conducted.ResultsAdaptive chunking training led to significant improvements in verbal working memory and untrained clinical measures of general cognitive function. Further, fMRI revealed a bilateral reduction in task-related lateral prefrontal and parietal cortex activation in the training group compared with controls.ConclusionsChunking-based cognitive training is a simple and potentially scalable intervention to improve cognitive function in early Alzheimer's disease.

scholarly journals Multisite transcranial direct current stimulation associated with cognitive training in episodic memory and executive functions in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease: a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Letícia Zanetti Marchi ◽  
Rayssa Gabriela Dantas Ferreira ◽  
Gabriella Nayara Siqueira de Lima ◽  
Jessyca Alves Silvestre da Silva ◽  
Daniel Marinho Cezar da Cruz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
American Woman ◽  
Clinical Aspects ◽  
Transcranial Stimulation

Abstract Background Dementia is among the most common chronic noncommunicable neurodegenerative diseases. In the long term, it causes disability and loss of autonomy and independence. It is estimated that there are 35.6 million people with Alzheimer’s disease worldwide. Several clinical aspects of this disease have been widely studied, but the main focus of study has been memory loss, which is one of the first symptoms. The present study proposes an innovative intervention that combines cognitive training and multisite transcranial direct current stimulation, which interferes with other clinical aspects of the subject. Case presentation In this study, we present two subjects diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s disease. Subject 1 is an 82-year-old Brazilian Latin American woman with a high school education who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 8 years ago and uses an Exelon patch. Subject 2 is an 88-year-old Brazilian Latin American woman with an incomplete primary education who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 1 year ago and received medical orientation to temporarily discontinue medications for Alzheimer’s disease. Both participants were subjected to intermittent cognitive training sessions and concomitant transcranial stimulation in three weekly 30-minute sessions in which a brain area was stimulated every 10 minutes for a total of 24 sessions, with a 2-month follow-up. Transcranial stimulation was applied to six different regions of the cortex: the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex bilaterally, the somatosensory association cortex bilaterally and Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas. Comparing the results of tests performed before and after the treatment period, a 1-point improvement was observed for both subjects on the Word Recall task of the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale, which evaluates symptoms related to the decline of episodic memory. Improvement in the executive functions domain was also observed through the results of the Stroop test, Victoria version. Conclusions The results from the two presented cases show that multisite transcranial stimulation associated with cognitive training is an effective adjuvant method for the treatment of patients diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s disease. Its effects can benefit patients’ daily routines by reducing cognitive deficits by keeping intact areas active and/or compensating for lost functions. Trial registration NCT02772185. Registered 13 May 2016, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02772185. Retrospectively registered.

Individual differences in working memory (WM) capacity in normal aging: A comparison with alzheimer's disease during verbal fluency using 99mTc-HMPAO spect

NeuroImage ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 389
Author(s):  
Christian Chicherio ◽  
Catherine Ludwig ◽  
Luc Terraneo ◽  
Anik de Ribaupierre ◽  
Ezio Giacobini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Normal Aging ◽  
Hmpao Spect ◽  
99Mtc Hmpao

P4-322: THE CONTRIBUTION OF EARLY ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE MARKERS TO INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN EPISODIC MEMORY IN COGNITIVELY NORMAL OLDER ADULTS

2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (7S_Part_30) ◽  
pp. P1585-P1585
Author(s):  
Alexandra N. Trelle ◽  
Jeffrey Bernstein ◽  
Valerie A. Carr ◽  
Gayle Deutsch ◽  
Carolyn A. Fredericks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitively Normal ◽  
Disease Markers ◽  
Early Alzheimer’S Disease

scholarly journals p-tau/Aβ42 Ratio Associates with Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchika Shaurya Prakash ◽  
Michael R. McKenna ◽  
Oyetunde Gbadeyan ◽  
Rebecca Andridge ◽  
Douglas W. Scharre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
The Impact

AbstractINTRODUCTIONThe most well-studied biomarkers in AD are CSF amyloid beta-42 (Aβ42), tau, p-tau, and the ratio p-tau/Aβ42. The ratiometric measure of p-tau/Aβ42 shows the best diagnostic accuracy, and correlates reliably with metrics of cognition in unimpaired participants. However, no study has examined the impact of the CSF p-tau/Aβ42 ratio in predicting cognitive decline in both healthy and AD individuals in one sample. The goal of this study was to examine whether CSF-based p-tau/Aβ42 predicts changes in global cognitive functioning, episodic memory, and executive functioning over a two-year period in cognitively impaired older adults (CU), and in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).METHODSThis study involves secondary analysis of data from 1215 older adults available in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Neuropsychological variables, collected at baseline, 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month follow-ups, included the Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite (PACC) to assess global cognitive functioning, ADNI-MEM to assess episodic memory functioning, and ADNI-EF to assess executive functioning. Linear mixed models were constructed to examine the effect of CSF p-tau/Aβ42, diagnostic group, and change over time (baseline, 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month) on cognitive scores.RESULTSCSF p-tau/Aβ42 ratios predicted worsening cognitive impairment, both on global cognition and episodic memory in individuals with MCI and AD, but not in CU older adults and predicted decline in executive functioning for all three diagnostic groups.DISCUSSIONOur study, including CU, MCI, and AD individuals, provides evidence for differential cognitive consequences of accumulated AD pathology based on diagnostic groups.

Everyday-like memory for objects in ageing and Alzheimer's disease assessed in a visually complex environment: The role of executive functioning and episodic memory

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélène Sauzéon ◽  
Bernard N'Kaoua ◽  
Prashant Arvind Pala ◽  
Mathieu Taillade ◽  
Sophie Auriacombe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Complex Environment

A Case Study of the Long-Lasting Effects of Cognitive Training on Similar Tasks in Alzheimer’s Disease

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1215-1224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Cavallo ◽  
Chiara Angilletta
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Optimization Task ◽  
Control Intervention ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Over Time

Objective: Cognitive training allows patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to reinforce their cognitive abilities. Here, we investigated the generalizability of trained skills to novel tasks, and their stability over time. Method: One patient underwent a structured cognitive training using the GEO (Geographical Exercise for cognitive Optimization) task, whereas 10 patients underwent a control intervention. Participants’ performances on the GEO task, on a similar untrained task, and on a different untrained task were recorded before and after the intervention, and at the 24-month follow-up. Results: On both the trained and the similar untrained tasks, patient’s and controls’ performance significantly differed from one another, with trained patient showing a significant acquirement of procedural skills that were maintained over time. Conclusion: Our preliminary evidence showed that a cognitive training could allow patients to acquire and maintain new skills not only on performing a trained task but surprisingly also on a similar untrained task.

Predictors and Moderators of Treatment Outcome in Cognitive Training for Children With ADHD

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (13) ◽  
pp. 1914-1927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marthe L. A. van der Donk ◽  
Anne-Claire Hiemstra-Beernink ◽  
Ariane C. Tjeenk-Kalff ◽  
Aryan van der Leij ◽  
Ramón J. L. Lindauer
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Word Reading ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Memory Training ◽  
Children With Adhd ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Visual Spatial Working Memory

Objective: To explore whether clinical variables and initial cognitive abilities predict or moderate (far) transfer treatment outcomes of cognitive training. Method: A total of 98 children (aged 8-12 years) with ADHD were randomly assigned to Cogmed Working Memory Training or a new cognitive training called “Paying Attention in Class.” Outcome measures included neurocognitive assessment, parent and teacher rated questionnaires of executive functioning behavior and academic performance. Predictor/moderator variables included use of medication, comorbidity, subtype of ADHD, and initial verbal and visual working memory skills. Results: Parent and teacher ratings of executive functioning behavior were predicted and moderated by subtype of ADHD. Word reading accuracy was predicted by subtype of ADHD and comorbidity. Use of medication and initial verbal and visual spatial working memory skills only predicted and moderated near transfer measures. Conclusion: Cognitive training can be beneficial for certain subgroups of children with ADHD; individual differences should be taken into account in future trials.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document