TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of cognitive training and mental stimulation on cognitive and everyday functioning of healthy older adults
T2 - A systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Kelly, Michelle E.
AU - Loughrey, David
AU - Lawlor, Brian A.
AU - Robertson, Ian H.
AU - Walsh, Cathal
AU - Brennan, Sabina
N1 - Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/5
Y1 - 2014/5
N2 - This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the impact of cognitive training and general mental stimulation on the cognitive and everyday functioning of older adults without known cognitive impairment. We examine transfer and maintenance of intervention effects, and the impact of training in group versus individual settings. Thirty-one randomised controlled trials were included, with 1806 participants in cognitive training groups and 386 in general mental stimulation groups. Meta-analysis results revealed that compared to active controls, cognitive training improved performance on measures of executive function (working memory, p= 0.04; processing speed, p<. 0.0001) and composite measures of cognitive function (p= 0.001). Compared to no intervention, cognitive training improved performance on measures of memory (face-name recall, p= 0.02; immediate recall, p= 0.02; paired associates, p= 0.001) and subjective cognitive function (p= 0.01). The impact of cognitive training on everyday functioning is largely under investigated. More research is required to determine if general mental stimulation can benefit cognitive and everyday functioning. Transfer and maintenance of intervention effects are most commonly reported when training is adaptive, with at least ten intervention sessions and a long-term follow-up. Memory and subjective cognitive performance might be improved by training in group versus individual settings.
AB - This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the impact of cognitive training and general mental stimulation on the cognitive and everyday functioning of older adults without known cognitive impairment. We examine transfer and maintenance of intervention effects, and the impact of training in group versus individual settings. Thirty-one randomised controlled trials were included, with 1806 participants in cognitive training groups and 386 in general mental stimulation groups. Meta-analysis results revealed that compared to active controls, cognitive training improved performance on measures of executive function (working memory, p= 0.04; processing speed, p<. 0.0001) and composite measures of cognitive function (p= 0.001). Compared to no intervention, cognitive training improved performance on measures of memory (face-name recall, p= 0.02; immediate recall, p= 0.02; paired associates, p= 0.001) and subjective cognitive function (p= 0.01). The impact of cognitive training on everyday functioning is largely under investigated. More research is required to determine if general mental stimulation can benefit cognitive and everyday functioning. Transfer and maintenance of intervention effects are most commonly reported when training is adaptive, with at least ten intervention sessions and a long-term follow-up. Memory and subjective cognitive performance might be improved by training in group versus individual settings.
KW - Cognitive functioning
KW - Cognitive training
KW - Healthy older adults
KW - Mental stimulation
KW - Meta-analysis
KW - Systematic review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84897899296&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.arr.2014.02.004
DO - 10.1016/j.arr.2014.02.004
M3 - Review article
C2 - 24607830
AN - SCOPUS:84897899296
SN - 1568-1637
VL - 15
SP - 28
EP - 43
JO - Ageing Research Reviews
JF - Ageing Research Reviews
IS - 1
ER -