BACKGROUND: Aging may be accompanied by cognitive decline. Improving cognitive function in elderly adults has important consequences in their quality of life. Literature suggests that training may improve cognitive functions in healthy elderly. OBJECTIVE: To verify effect of cognitive stimulation group in healthy older adults. METHODS: Longitudinal study in which we evaluated 32 educated participants above of 60 years, divided in 2 groups. The case group has participated of 10 sessions of cognitive stimulation in group. And the other group was formed by 15 controls, with similar age and education. The sample was evaluated before and after intervention, using as instruments an adapted version of CERAD Neuropsychology Assessment, clock drawing test and check-list of cognitive complains. It was used descriptive analysis and Paired Student's t-Test to observe the differences between the groups after cognitive stimulation. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups for age, gender and education. In the initial evaluation, the groups did not present differences in the performance of applied tests. In the evaluation after intervention with cognitive stimulation, there was improvement only in the case group in the tasks of naming, semantic fluency, total fluency (CERAD battery) and clock drawing, as well as in the check-list of cognitive complaints. CONCLUSION: Cognitive stimulation applied has decreased the cognitive complains and has improved performance in cognitive tests in healthy older adults.
Self Stimulation; Cognition; Intervention Studies; Health Services for the Aged
