Cognitive Training Techniques Overview

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Questions and Answers

What physiological response tends to be more challenging for older adults compared to younger adults in stressful situations?

Identifying emotional triggers

Interpreting social cues

Managing physical tasks

Returning to homeostasis (correct)

What condition is more commonly experienced by older adults compared to depression?

Bipolar disorder

Anxiety (correct)

Chronic pain

Dementia

What is one of the physical symptoms older adults exhibit when experiencing depression?

Sleep problems (correct)

Increased social interactions

Enhanced memory recall

Heightened emotional expression

Which factor is identified as increasing the risk of depression in older adults?

Change in living situation Signup and view all the answers

How do older adults generally experience positive and negative emotions compared to younger adults?

Higher positive relative to negative emotions Signup and view all the answers

What common factor may lead to anxiety in older adults?

Fear of falling Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following symptoms is NOT typically associated with depression in older adults?

Heightened mood swings Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common response of older adults to chronic and unpredictable stressors?

Difficulties returning to homeostasis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following strategies are included in memory training for improving verbal episodic memory?

Instruction in mnemonic rules Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of reasoning training according to the content?

Solving problems following a serial pattern Signup and view all the answers

How did the speed of processing training improve cognitive abilities?

Through gradually increasing task complexity and distractions Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable outcome of the cognitive training interventions after 10 years?

Participants experienced less difficulty with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) Signup and view all the answers

Which factors could potentially affect cognitive training effectiveness in older adults?

The complexity of family routines or caregiving Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following interventions aims to address ageist attitudes?

Education about self attitudes Signup and view all the answers

Which cognitive ability was specifically tested through tasks involving letter or number series?

Abstract reasoning Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the speed of processing training interventions?

Gradually decreasing stimuli duration to enhance speed Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy is NOT recommended for enhancing attention in clients with cognitive changes?

Maximize simultaneous tasks Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory technique involves logical grouping of information to aid learning?

Chunking Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of cognitive function is significantly impacted by aging?

Fluid intelligence Signup and view all the answers

Which intervention strategy helps improve working memory?

Implement visual aids Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommended strategy to improve cognitive flexibility?

Promote abstract reasoning tasks Signup and view all the answers

Which change is associated with decreased speed of information processing in older adults?

Slowed peripheral and central nervous systems Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy is NOT effective in promoting memory retention?

Overloading the client with complex tasks Signup and view all the answers

What technique can help with retrieval of information from working memory?

Mnemonics Signup and view all the answers

Which component of cognitive function is primarily linked to executive functioning?

Planning and decision-making Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following interventions helps effectively reduce anxiety and improve cognitive processing?

Stress reduction techniques Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Memory Training

Teaches mnemonic strategies for remembering
- Includes instruction in strategy and mnemonic rules
- Uses word lists, sequences of items, grocery lists, text material
- Focuses on main ideas and story details
Offers individual and group feedback on performance

Reasoning Training

Focuses on the ability to solve problems that follow a serial pattern
Includes identifying patterns in letter or number series and everyday activities
Includes abstract reasoning tasks and reasoning problems related to activities of daily living
Uses individual and group exercises

Speed of Processing Training

Focuses on visual search skills
Uses gradually complex speed tasks on a computer
- Decreases stimuli duration
- Adds distractions
- Increases the number of concurrent tasks
- Presents targets over a wider spatial expanse

ACTIVE Study Results

2 Years: Each intervention improves targeted cognitive ability compared to baseline and lasts up to 2 years
10 Years: Participants in each intervention group report less difficulty with IADLs, memory, and reasoning
- 60% of trained participants report being at or above baseline level for self-reported IADL function (compared to 50% of controls)
- Reasoning and speed-of-processing interventions maintain effects on targeted cognitive abilities

Implications for OT Assessment and Intervention

Less energy with older age makes it more difficult to keep up with learning activities, leading to exhaustion
Family routines, such as caring for grandchildren and pets, can cause caregiver stress due to family expectations and cultural factors
Ageist attitudes can affect an individual's self-perception

Intervention Strategies

Education: Provide education about self-attitudes
Energy Conservation: Teach energy conservation techniques
Family Involvement: Involve family in planning daily routines and understanding cultural influences

Communication

Promotes social interaction
Ensures safety
Addresses occupational performance

Interventions for Sensory Loss

Setting Cues: Establishes cues for clients
Sensory Prevention: Implements strategies to prevent sensory overload
Adaptation: Adapts tasks and tools
- Adjust font size, use magnifying glasses
Education: Educates clients and family on safety
Advocacy: Provides advocacy for clients
System Navigation: Assists with navigating systems and accessing resources

Cognitive changes are a major threat to participation and quality of life
Not all cognitive abilities decline with age
Life experience can compensate for declines associated with memory impairment
Understanding patterns of preserved and impaired cognitive functions helps understand the impact on occupational performance

OT Goals

Promotes cognitive health
Assists clients in understanding cognitive changes
Develops strategies to enhance functioning

Cognitive Changes: Arousal and Sleep

Frontal lobe changes affect arousal and sleep patterns
Increase in sleep duration
Sleep disturbances are associated with:
- Depression
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Cardiac, respiratory, and musculoskeletal conditions
Sleep disturbances impact cognitive functioning

Cognitive Changes: Intellectual Changes

Crystalized intelligence: Remains intact
Fluid intelligence: Is impacted
Significant intellectual changes in adults can negatively affect self-esteem, so it's important to address them

Cognitive Changes: Speed of Processing

Decreases in speed of processing information within working memory
Slowing in peripheral and central nervous systems and slowed sensory processing
- Leads to increased reaction time and increased time to process and retrieve new information
Test scores can be influenced by test relevancy
Older adults take time to understand and process information
- They may need longer appointments to ensure adequate time

Cognitive Changes: Executive Function

Decreased planning, abstract thoughts, decision-making, cognitive flexibility, and appropriate behavior
Speed and efficiency of problem solving are impacted
- Particularly in abstract reasoning
Mental flexibility and set shifting in reasoning tasks is reduced

Intervention Strategies to Promote Learning and Occupational Engagement

Assist the client:
- Understand the mechanisms of memory and issues
- Develop strategies related to attention and working memory
- Use direct attention to what is to be learned
- Minimize distractions
- Increase attention especially for more than one modality/task
- Allow time for processing, reduce content presented, slow speech rate/pause, and increase exposure time
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Allow self-pacing
- Encourage active verbalization (talk aloud) and elaboration of new information instead of just rehearsal
- Provide clear instructions for organizing a complex task - logically group information and focus on essential aspects
- Build on what the client already knows
- Encourage organizational strategies
- Use mnemonic/reminder strategies
Cognitive training can reduce cognitive and functional decline

ACTIVE Study: Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly

Potential benefits include:
- Improved mental health
- Enhanced social connections
- Stronger connection to culture
- Improved physical and behavioral health
Reduced:
- Stress
- Isolation and loneliness
- Primary and secondary care use

Emotional Well-Being

Positive emotions increase, and negative emotions decrease between 50 and 70 years
Before and after those ages, patterns vary across specific emotions
Older adults generally have a higher positive-to-negative emotional experience than younger adults

Emotion and Physiology - Stress

Older adults have greater difficulties returning to homeostasis compared to young adults with high levels of sustained emotional arousal
Stressful situations for older adults include:
- Social isolation
- Neurological dysfunction
- Chronic and unpredictable stressors
- Overload of predictable stressors

Depression

The rate of depression in older adults is lower than in younger adults
Symptoms of depression are more harmful in older adults:
- Decreased cognitive, physical, and social functioning
- Increased risk of morbidity (e.g., cardiac events), suicide, self-neglect, and mortality
Depression can present as a lifetime illness or a late-life condition
Older adults tend to present physical symptoms rather than emotional ones:
- Sleep problems
- Fatigue
- Psychomotor slowing
- Impaired cognition
- Loss of interest in living
- Hopelessness about the future
The risk of depression in older adults is increased with sudden events in later life:
- Financial difficulties/socioeconomic disadvantages
- A new illness or disability/family member with a new illness or disability
- Retirement/change in living situation

Anxiety

Characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease
More common than depression in older adults, and a mixture of both is frequent
Shared risk profiles with depression
Often relates to fear of falling and/or is comorbid with other illnesses
Reduced activity level
Older adults may avoid engaging in activities due to anxiety

Occupational Therapy Role

Screening:
- Interview clients
- Use standardized tools (examples not provided)

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Description

Explore various cognitive training techniques including memory, reasoning, and processing speed training. This quiz covers strategies, exercises, and instructional methods designed to enhance cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills. Perfect for those interested in improving their mental performance.