Effectiveness of Reminiscence Therapy Versus Cognitive Stimulation in Older Adults With Cognitive Decline

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Cognitive Decline

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Group intervention

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Junta de Freguesia de Santo António dos Olivais

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Centro Sociocultural Polivalente de São Martinho

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Centro Social e Paroquial de Carapinheira do Campo

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Obra Social de Torre de Vilela

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Centro Social Paroquial de Pedrulha

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Associação Nacional de Apoio ao Idoso

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Cantanhede

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Doce Viver - Residencial Sénior, Bruscos

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Paulo Costa

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Rosa Silva, PhD · Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing, Nursing School of Coimbra

• João Apóstolo, PhD · Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing, Nursing School of Coimbra

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-04-20

Primary Completion

2017-06-06

Completion

2017-06-06

Countries

• Portugal

Study Locations