Modular memory training for elderly adults: concept and evaluation

Abstract

We present a modular concept of a cognitive training relevant to the demands of everyday life of community dwelling older adults. The concept has three major advantages. First, it takes into account the current performance levels and needs of the trainees. Second, the training is economical in aiming at selecting the most effective training elements. Third, the concept allows the evaluation of single elements of the training. The application of this concept points at the importance of training content being relevant to trainees' everyday lives. Results indicate that training effectiveness depends on the starting level of performance and the cognitive domain being trained. Overall, the results demonstrate the possibility to maximize training gains of older adults by designing adequate trainings for well-defined subgroups of normal older adults.