MEMORY TRAINING IN ELDERLY: USING THE TABLET AS A TOOL FOR ACTION

During the process of human aging, some cognitive functions are altered, including memory. Therefore, studies suggest that this function decline can be soft by cognitive interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of the tablet as an intervention tool in memory training with the elderly. 16 older adults with normal cognitive profile and without depressive symptoms participated in this study and were divided for convenience into conventional intervention group (GIC) and tablet intervention group (GIT) and were submitted to a specific memory training program. Both groups performed a pre test followed by four sessions of intervention and a post intervention reassessment. They were evaluated by applying a Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS 15) and Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE). For the memory evaluation it was used The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning (RAVLT) and Pictorial Test of Memory (TEPIC M). The results showed that the performance improvement after the intervention was similar in Universidade de Passo Fundo PPGEH BR 285 – Bairro: São José, CEP: 99052-900, Passo Fundo RS Brasil. Telf.:55 54 3316-8384. e-mail: carolina@upf.br Muriane Zimmer, Ana Carolina Bertoletti De Marchi, & Eliane Lucia Colussi www.sp-ps.pt 361 both groups. The tablet use has generated the same pattern of results compared to conventional training, indicating that it can become an appropriate tool for intervention targeting the elderly memory training.