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Gist reasoning training in cognitively normal seniors
Author(s) -
Anand Raksha,
Chapman Sandra B.,
Rackley Audette,
Keebler Molly,
Zientz Jennifer,
Hart John
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.2633
Subject(s) - gist , psychology , cognition , verbal fluency test , fluency , cognitive training , abstraction , cognitive psychology , quality of life (healthcare) , population , developmental psychology , medicine , psychiatry , neuropsychology , philosophy , mathematics education , environmental health , stromal cell , pathology , epistemology , psychotherapist
Objective Cognitive impairment is a key factor that threatens functionality and quality of life in seniors. Given the projection that the population of individuals 65 years of age and older will double within the next 25 years, a critical need exists to identify and test effectiveness of protocols that target higher‐order cognitive skills such as gist reasoning to maximize cognitive capacity in later life. Methods : This study examined the effects of eight hours of gist reasoning training in 26 cognitively normal seniors between the ages of 64‐85 years ( M = 74.23, SD = 6.67). Results Findings suggest that top‐down strategy‐based gist reasoning training significantly improved abstraction ability, a skill relevant to everyday life, as well as generalized to untrained measures of executive function including concept abstraction, cognitive switching, and verbal fluency. Individuals with lower baseline ability to abstract gist showed the greatest gain in the target domain trained. Conclusions These findings highlight the potential value of engaging in cognitively challenging activities that involve gist reasoning, to strengthen and preserve cognitive capacity with aging. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.