Efficacy of a therapeutic cognitive training program for memory and neuropsychological deficits in a dementia population

Abstract

Examine the efficacy of a therapeutic program of cognitive training, individually designed for the remediation of memory deficits identified through neuropsychological testing prior to and following therapeutic intervention in a clinic population. The range of dementia diagnosed by neuropsychological testing was from mildto severe. Adults referred for assessment of memory difficulties (age 58 to 83 years, 9 males, n=20) from 2007 to 2012 were re-evaluated following the intervention of a cognitive training program (average of two to four months between pre and post testing). Excluded were individuals who had suffered any type of injury or insult to the brain resulting in a pure sample of only the diagnosis of dementia (Cardiovascular, Frontal Lobe, Alzheimer's, and Frontal Temporal). The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the Doors and People Test are two of the measures routinely utilized to assess memory functioning pre and post treatment. Initial testing is individualized depending upon the referral question. Verbal memory on the RBANS consisted of the recall of a word list and short story. Delayed memory assessed recall of the word list, story and previously copied visual figure. Recognition testing from the Doors and People Test was verbal and visual recognition of previously shown information when presented amongst distracter items. Areas of immediate, delayed, and overall memory improved following treatment when mean differences were assessed with the RBANS. Between 6 and 9 point differences were found for immediate, delayed, and overall memory. Paired samples t-tests revealed significant differences between pre and post treatment scores for delayed memory on the RBANS (p=0.03). Significant differences between pre and post treatment scores were also seen for the recognition test of Doors from the Doors and People Test (p=0.027).