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The effect of strategic memory training in older adults: who benefits most?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2017

Alessia Rosi Open the ORCID record for Alessia Rosi [Opens in a new window] ,
Federica Del Signore ,
Elisa Canelli ,
Nicola Allegri ,
Sara Bottiroli ,
Tomaso Vecchi  and
Elena Cavallini
Alessia Rosi*
Affiliation:
Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
Federica Del Signore
Affiliation:
Pavia and Vigevano Neuropsychological Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Vigevano, Italy
Elisa Canelli
Affiliation:
Pavia and Vigevano Neuropsychological Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Vigevano, Italy
Nicola Allegri
Affiliation:
Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy Pavia and Vigevano Neuropsychological Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Vigevano, Italy
Sara Bottiroli
Affiliation:
Headache Science Centre, National Neurological Institute C. Mondino, Pavia, Italy
Tomaso Vecchi
Affiliation:
Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy Brain Connectivity Center, National Neurological Institute C. Mondino, Pavia, Italy
Elena Cavallini
Affiliation:
Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Alessia Rosi, Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy. Phone: +39 0382 986133; Fax: +39 0382. 986132. Email: alessia.rosi@ateneopv.it.
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Abstract

Background:

Previous research has suggested that there is a degree of variability among older adults’ response to memory training, such that some individuals benefit more than others. The aim of the present study was to identify the profile of older adults who were likely to benefit most from a strategic memory training program that has previously proved to be effective in improving memory in healthy older adults.

Method:

In total, 44 older adults (60–83 years) participated in a strategic memory training. We examined memory training benefits by measuring changes in memory practiced (word list learning) and non-practiced tasks (grocery list and associative learning). In addition, a battery of cognitive measures was administered in order to assess crystallized and fluid abilities, short-term memory, working memory, and processing speed.

Results:

Results confirmed the efficacy of the training in improving performance in both practiced and non-practiced memory tasks. For the practiced memory tasks, results showed that memory baseline performance and crystallized ability predicted training gains. For the non-practiced memory tasks, analyses showed that memory baseline performance was a significant predictor of gain in the grocery list learning task. For the associative learning task, the significant predictors were memory baseline performance, processing speed, and marginally the age.

Conclusions:

Our results indicate that older adults with a higher baseline memory capacity and with more efficient cognitive resources were those who tended to benefit most from the training. The present study provides new avenues in designing personalized intervention according to the older adults’ cognitive profile.

Keywords

memorytrainingpredictorsgainolder adultsindividual differences
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 30 , Issue 8: Issue Theme: Caregiver Stress , August 2018 , pp. 1235 - 1242
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2017 

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