Effects of group work programs on community‐dwelling elderly people with age‐associated cognitive decline and/or mild depressive moods: A Kahoku Longitudinal Aging Study

Abstract

Background: Age‐associated cognitive decline (AACD) is a predictor of dementia and highly prevalent among elderly people. Many elderly people with AACD also suffer from depressive moods. We studied, the effect of group work programs on the cognitive function and quality of life (QOL) of community‐dwelling elderly people with AACD and/or mild depressive moods.Methods: Thirty‐six subjects, with a mean age of 79.8 years, were included in this study. Twenty‐one suffered from both AACD and mild depressive moods, nine suffered from mild depressive moods and six from AACD. Subjects were required to participate in a number of group work programs, such as music therapy, handicrafts and so on. They were assigned to one of two groups, and each participated in two 4‐month sessions. In the first session, group 1 participated in the group work programs, while group 2 did not (control). In the second session, group 2 participated while group 1 did not. The effect of group work on elderly people with AACD (n = 27) and depressive moods (n = 31), was evaluated separately.Results: Improvement was observed in depressive moods and QOL (visual analogue scale of family relation, friendship and happiness, life satisfaction index) in subjects with cognitive impairment and depressive moods. The effect on cognitive function was shown only in elderly individuals suffering from depressive moods. The improvement in depressive moods and QOL seemed to be accompanied by an improvement in cognitive function but did not continue after completion of the group work program.Conclusion: Group work was shown to improve depressive moods, QOL and cognitive function; however, long‐term effects require further examination.