Effects Of Short Term Cognitive Training On Episodic Memory And Executive Functioning

As adults age their executive functioning start to slow down. The structural changes in the prefrontal cortex

Even late-life activity influence reduced risk of dementia, so it is never too late to initiate intervention enhancing cognitive factors. Still intervention at earlier life period might more beneficial because of greater exposure to cognitive reserve-enhancing factors lower risk of dementia. Finally, cumulative exposure to reserve-enhancing factors over the lifespan equally effective both individuals with and without genetic

Aging is often associated with gradual cognitive decline which can significantly affect an individual’s quality of life. In Australia, 110, 000 people identified as suffering from dementia (ABS, 2012). A relatively new intervention that aims to combat this cognitive decline, involves the use of computerised brain training programs. Many studies have shown that cognitive training can improve cognitive function in older adults (Peretz, et al., 2011, p. 91). Having said that, there here have been mixed results regarding the effectiveness of improving overall cognitive function using computerised methods. There is evidence to suggest slight improvements in some areas of cognitive function. However, there has not been enough conclusive results

Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning which affects an individual’s daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that slowly destroys memory and thinking and the ability to perform simple tasks. There is some research that suggests cognitive training may slow the progression of dementia. Cognitive training challenges a variety of cognitive functions such as attention, memory and speed, which is different to general brain training that people may come across in their daily life (Kanaan et al., 2014). Various limitations

Aging is a natural process of life however, studies show that there are some age-related decline in cognitive development. As a person grows older some brain cell dies, shrink, or weaken and cause some decline in brain functions. Some cognitive processes include attention, working memory, long-term memory, perception, and executive control. The material will explain the effect of aging on cognitive development by providing scholarly research proof.

As we age, our bodies begin to deteriorate. The bones become brittle, the muscles and tendons atrophy, hair falls out, and our mental faculties begin to diminish. It can be difficult when it comes to aging but at times it is a beautiful, natural process of life. With age comes many difficulties and changes. One of them is a very serious and debilitating change that can impact one who is affected as well as those who may be caring for them and their families. This change is that of the disease Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. This disease affects more than 5 million Americans and continues to increase. With this disease on the increase, it begs the question if there is a way to prevent this debilitating disease or at least some kind of early diagnosis. Though there is no concrete way to determine the etiology of Alzheimer’s unless through autopsy of the human brain, there are ways to aid in the early diagnosis of this disease amongst the aging population for better and improved prognosis.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is characterized by gradual cognitive decline that beings with the inability to create recent memories or thoughts which then proceeds to influencing all intellectual functions (Mayeux & Stern, 2012) . Alzheimer’s disease leads to premature death and the dependence of someone for daily life functions. (Mayeux & Stern, 2012) If effects an estimated 5.5 million people in the United States and 24 million people worldwide (Mayeux & Stern, 2012). The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is rising in line with the aging population therefore; Alzheimer’s is most common in older patients around the ages of 60-85 (Mayeux & Stern, 2012).

One cognitive defect affecting elderly patients is Alzheimer's disease. This cognitive disease affects many populations around the world, but mainly aging individuals3. Though the quantity of life is extending with modern medical practices4,

The goal was to investigate the three different cognitive training areas: memory, reasoning and speed. The authors started with a baseline of participants of an average of “73.6 years old, had 13.5 years of schooling and 26% were African American.” After five years, they found that training effects with OTDI did not influence the subjects observed in the study and after the preliminary study they did a study on subjects with no diagnosis of dementia and no ADL limitations (bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene). After eliminating three of the 2,082 they worked with 2,799. The ODLT was measured by cognition and the response to verbal prompts every day and whether it led to better performance in the older

Alzheimer’s patients’ overall health is at risk. Because this disease affects the brain, several cognitive functions are

As an individual grows older there are many signs of aging, which occur. There are common areas of decline in cognition such as some loss of hearing, vision, and working memory that are considered part of the normal aging process. When these symptoms start to worsen and vastly impair everyday tasks, the consideration of a form of dementia is brought forward. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a brain disease, is the most common type of dementia, and affects majority of people 60 years or older (1,14). It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, which only continues to worsen over time. Each individual is affected differently with symptoms and the progression. As of right now there is no cure for it (14).

Over the centuries, the term dementia has evolved from one that described any change in intellect or judgement in the elderly, to a collection of cognitive and behavioral symptoms correlated with specific neuropathology. The aging process is thought to have three possible cognitive outcomes: (1) normal age related decline, which is often described as normal and healthy aging; (2) age associated memory impairment, which is not as severe and does not have all of the features of dementia; (3) dementia, for which there are many types (Christensen & O’Brien, 2000).

289). In part B, the person was given 420 seconds to connect randomly distributed numbers and letters in alpha-numeric sequence (Carlson et al., 2012, p. 289). Through the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) would reveal both immediate learning and delayed recall. In this case the total possible number of words answered is 36, the person was then given 15 minutes to remember as many words as possible, most remembered 12. Carlson et al. employed Cox proportional hazard model, “to examine the frequency and variety of activity predicted time to cognitive impairment on each of the four cognitive outcomes” (TMT A, TMT B, HVLT immediate, and HVLT delayed recall) (Carlson et al., 2012, p. 289). Over the 9.5-year interval, the percentages were the following: TMT, Part A > 81 s; TMT, Part B > 225 s; HVLT Intermediate recall < 16 words; HVLT Delayed recall < 4 words; and MMSE score < 23 (Carlson et al., 2012, p. 289). The study found that indeed variety in cognitive activities can reduce the risk of impairment such as: dementia and cognitive aging by 8%-11% (Carlson et al., 2012, p.

Smith et al. (2013) took a less studied approach to improving cognitive decline by testing the effects of aerobic exercise on adults (60-88 years old) already suffering from cognitive impairment. After 12 weeks of moderate exercise there was an improvement of memory and neural efficiency across all subjects.

Cognitive aging is commonly labeled strictly as memory and only found in “some people”. However, this is not true. The knowledge of cognitive aging has grown immensely, but there is still much to be learned. The surface has only been scratched with many more questions to be answered. Cognitive aging is worthy of study and effects everyone, but there is also much more is still to be learned.