The influence of a cognitive stimulation program on the quality of life perception among the elderly

There is an undeniable concern among the elderly about the mental changes they experience as they grow older. In general, the elderly tend to regard mental deterioration as a pathological condition, however these changes should be considered inherent in the aging process and in the last few years cognitive stimulation programs have been developed in order to address these concerns among the elderly. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of a cognitive training program on 53 subjects with age-related memory loss. The results of cognitive performance have been compared with a control group consisting of 51 subjects with no cognitive training. Moreover, this research analyses the relationship between cognitive changes and the variation in the perceived quality of life of the elderly people in both groups. The results show significant changes in the test group, demonstrating improved cognitive performance and quality of life perception. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.