Memory Training and Task Specificity in 90-99-Year-Old Seniors with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Managing memory deficits is a central problem among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study examined the effects of memory training on memory performance in an understudied “oldest-old” population ranging in age from 90 to 99 years. Eighteen mild to moderately cognitive-impaired older seniors, 90 years and older were recruited from memory clinics established in senior living communities. Treatment sessions took place, on average, twice weekly, for 55 minutes. Memory intervention included nineteen computer-based exercises customized to focus on memory loss. The specificity of memory training was very clear;memory training produced significant effects (F(3,51) = 2.81, p = 0.05) on memory performance, especially after 6 months of training, while other outcome measures showed no effects as predicted. Based on the results, it can be concluded that interventions targeting cognition and memory in the oldest-old MCI population can significantly improve memory function and reduce cognitive deficits.

Nine Months of Memory Training Increases Cognistat Measured Memory in 79 - 89 Year-Old Mild Cognitively Impaired Individuals

The effects of a memory training paradigm on performance across multiple cognitive domains, measured via the Cognistat, in 70 - 89 year-old individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), were examined. Memory training sessions were conducted on average twice weekly, for 55 minutes each session, for 9 months. Across the testing period, Cognistat-measured memory increased relative to performance in other cognitive domains. Additionally, performance on non-memory measures remained stable or declined. Thus, memory training in older adult, MCI individuals may result in improved memory, but not in improvement in other, non-memory, cognitive domains. Results replicate previous work examining “oldest-old” individuals ranging in age from 90 to 99 years old at the time of study start.

A Brief Report Investigating Subjective and Objective Memory Pre- and Post-Memory Training in 70- to 96-Year-Old Individuals with Mild Memory Deficit

Subjective memory impairment is a major complaint among older adults;however, research is conflicting regarding the relationship between subjective memory impairment and objectively measured memory loss. Here, individuals with mild memory impairment completed the memory subscale of the Cognistat as a measure of objective memory, and the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MCQ) as a measure of subjective memory, prior to and following a 3-month memory training program. Results revealed that individuals with more, compared with fewer, memory complaints performed worse on the Cognistat. Additionally, increased Cognistat performance fol-lowing the memory training procedure was associated with decreased MCQ measured complaints. There was suggestive evidence that the memory training procedure improved memory, and thus future research is warranted. These findings imply that older, memory-impaired, adults, despite their memory impairment, are indeed able to judge, and may be accurately concerned with, the extent of their own memory loss. It should be noted that serious statistical limitations here indicate the need for replication to confirm the validity of the findings.