Intervention with strategic metacognitive training in a population of elders with subjective cognitive decline
https://doi.org/10.4081/wpph.2024.9840
Accepted: 13 May 2024
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Objectives: this research, conducted at the University Hospital of Alessandria, aimed to assess the impact of strategic metacognitive training on cognitive abilities, well-being, and the reduction of depressive symptoms in an elderly population. Materials and Methods: the study included a sample of 11 subjects, aged 66 to 81 years, exhibiting subjective cognitive decline. They had to learn mnemonic strategies and, through the metacognitive task, reflecting on the learning and application processes. The training included 10 sessions, once a week. Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) in pre-test and post-test evaluations. Ad hoc tests were employed to investigate the effects of practice and generalization. Well-being, measured through the Psychological Wellbeing Questionnaire (BEN-SSC), and depressive status, assessed with the 15-item short form Geriatric Depression Scale (sfGDS), were also evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: the cognitive measurements yielded no significant findings, except for a tendency toward significance in the visuospatial and language ability index of the RBANS, indicating a slight improvement. Regarding well-being and mood, also here no results emerged in favor of significance. The only significant data was a reduction in personal satisfaction according to the BEN-SSC. Conclusions: the obtained results may be explained by potential inadequacies in the methodology, specifically in the structure and planning of the training. However, participants expressed interest in this type of intervention, demonstrating adherence in other training program.
Pepoli A, et al. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): l’incerto confine tra normalità e patologia. Working Paper of Public Health 2015;8:1-14
Pepoli A, De Luca F, Passantino F, Ruiz L. Progetto di presa in carico multidisciplinare dei pazienti con Sclerosi Multipla: presentazione di un modello di integrazione in ambito ospedaliero. 2019. Available from: https://www.fisppsicologia.it/images/riviste/Link-2-2019/link-2019-pazienti-con-sclerosi-multipla.pdf
Verhaeghen, P, Marcoen A, Goossens L. Improving memory performance in the aged through mnemonic training: a meta-analytic study. Psychology and Aging 1992;7:242-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0882-7974.7.2.242
Basak C, Qin S, O'Connell MA. Differential effects of cognitive training modules in healthy aging and mild cognitive impairment: a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychology and Aging 2020;35:220-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000442
Mewborn, CM, Lindbergh CA, Stephen Miller L. Cognitive interventions for cognitively healthy, mildly impaired, and mixed samples of older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials. Neuropsychological Review 2017;27:403-39. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-017-9350-8
De Beni R, Mazzoni G, Pagotto S. Fiducia nel proprio sistema di memoria e stili attributivi nell’anziano. Confronti tra differenti età e diversi contesti abitativi. Ricerche di Psicologia 1996;1996.
Bottiroli, S, Cavallini E, Dunlosky J, et al. The importance of training strategy adaptation: a learner-oriented approach for improving older adults’ memory and transfer. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied 2013;19:205. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034078
Cavallini E, Bottiroli S, Capotosto E, et al. Self-help memory training for healthy older adults in a residential care center: specific and transfer effects on performance and beliefs. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2015;30:870-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.4230
Hastings EC, West RL. The relative success of a self-help and a group-based memory training program for older adults. Psychology and Aging 2009;24:586-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016951
Sella E, Carbone E, Vincenzi M, et al. Efficacy of memory training interventions targeting metacognition for older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Aging & Mental Health 2023;27:674-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2022.2122931
Cavallini E, Pagnin A, Vecchi T. Aging and everyday memory: the beneficial effect of memory training. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 2003;37:241-57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-4943(03)00063-3
Cavallini E, Dunlosky J, Bottiroli S, et al. Promoting transfer in memory training for older adults. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research 2010;22:314-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03337728
Cavallini E, Bottiroli S, Dunlosky J, et al. Strategy-adaptation memory training: predictors of older adults’ training gains. Open Psychology 2019;1:255-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/psych-2018-0017
Dentici OA, Amoretti G, Cavallini E. La memoria degli anziani. Una guida per mantenerla in efficienza. Edizioni Erickson; Rome, Italy; 2004. 195 pp.
Bottiroli S, Cavallini E. Come mantenere giovane il cervello. Newton Compton Editori; Rome, Italy; 2016.
Randolph C. RBANS update: Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status: Manual. Pearson; Bloomington, MN, USA; 2009.
Yesavage JA, Sheikh JI. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clinical Gerontology 1986;5:165-73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J018v05n01_09
Incalzi RA, Cesari M, Pedone C, Carbonin PU. Construct validity of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale in older medical inpatients. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology 2003;16:23-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0891988703016001006
Pocklington C, Gilbody S, Manea L, McMillan D. The diagnostic accuracy of brief versions of the Geriatric Depression Scale: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2016;31:837-57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.4407
Chiesi F, Primi C, Pigliautile M, et al. The local reliability of the 15-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale: An Item Response Theory (IRT) study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2017;96:84-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2017.03.013
Azulai A, Walsh CA. Screening for geriatric depression in residential care facilities: a systematic narrative review. Journal of Gerontological Social Work 2015;58:20-45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2014.904469
Mitchell AJ, Bird V, Rizzo M, Meader N. Diagnostic validity and added value of the Geriatric Depression Scale for depression in primary care: a meta-analysis of GDS30 and GDS15. Journal of Affective Disorders 2010;125:10-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2009.08.019
Wancata J, Alexandrowicz R, Marquart B, et al. The criterion validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale: a systematic review. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2006;114:398-410. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2006.00888.x
De Beni R, Borrella E. BAC Benessere e Abilità Cognitive nell’età adulta e avanzata. Giunti Editore; Florence, Italy; 2007.
Sanjuán M, Navarro E, Calero MD. Effectiveness of cognitive interventions in older adults: a review. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education 2020;10:876-98. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe10030063
Rosi A, Del Signore F, Canelli E, et al. The effect of strategic memory training in older adults: who benefits most? International Psychogeriatrics 2018;30:1235-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610217002691
Cheng Y, Wu W, Feng W, Wang J, et al. The effects of multi-domain versus single-domain cognitive training in non-demented older people: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Medicine 2012;10:30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-10-30
Gehling J. The effects of a cognitive training program for healthy older adults: a program evaluation study. Minnesota State University, Mankato, USA; 2020.
Copyright (c) 2024 Daniele D'Alessio, Rossella Sterpone, Antonio Pepoli, Antonio Maconi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.
Downloads
Citations
