Cognitive stimulation is essential to maintain and/or improve the cognitive function of the elderly.

Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive stimulation is essential to maintain and / or improve the cognitive function of the elderly. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the application of a Cognitive Sti- mulation Program on the maintenance or improvement of the cognitive function of the elderly at the levels of orientation, memory, calculation and language. It was also intended to evaluate complementary measures of the impact of the intervention program, name- ly on the quality of life, depressive symptoms, in the eight cognitive domains, executive function, visuospatial capacity, memory, attention, concentration and working memory, language and orientation. Method: The program was performed in 14 sessions for seven weeks, with pre-and post-test measurements. The final sample consisted of seven elderly men, four men and three women aged between 68-89 years (80.29 ± 8.83 years), who responded to the following measures: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Quality of life (IAQdV-8), Geriatric De- pression Scale (GDS-15) and Cognitive Decline Test (6-CIT). Results: The post-test cognitive decline in relation to the pre-test decreased significantly (6_CIT), with an improvement in the cognitive function of the elderly. The improvement of some indicators of cognitive function is positively correlated with the self-perception of quality of life with negatively depressive symptomatology. Conclusions: The administration of Cognitive Stimulation Programs contributes to an im- provement of the cognitive function in the elderly and an increase in the quality of life. Key-words: Cognitive function; memory; quality of life and depression.