Effectiveness of Reminiscence Therapy Versus Cognitive Stimulation in Older Adults With Cognitive Decline

Effectiveness of Reminiscence Therapy Versus Cognitive Stimulation in Older Adults With Cognitive Decline: a Quasi-experimental Pilot Study

Although data suggest that non-pharmacologic therapies such as Reminiscence Therapy (RT) and Cognitive Stimulation (CS) can potentially maintain or reverse this trend, cognitive impairment can be a precursor to neurodegenerative processes. This study aimed to assess how an RT and a CS program affected cognition, depressive symptomatology, and quality of life (QoL) in older persons with cognitive decline who attended community support institutions in central Portugal. For seven weeks, a quasi-experimental study with two arms (RT and CS program) was conducted. The intervention was completed by 76 of the 109 older persons who were first screened (50 in the RT program, 26 in the CS program). In both groups, a pre- and post-intervention analysis revealed statistically significant differences in cognition, particularly in older adults' delayed recall ability.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ability to give informed consent before study commencement;
• Ability to participate in group activities for a period between 45 to 60 minutes;
• No pronounced impairment of their visual and auditory abilities;
• Mild to moderate cognitive decline, assessed as a score equal to or below 20 points in the Six-Item Cognitive Impairment Test (6-CIT).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unstable clinical condition;
• Prescribed with cholinesterase inhibitors and/or antipsychotics during the study period.