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The Memory Fitness Program: Cognitive Effects of a Healthy Aging Intervention.

Authors :: Miller, Karen J.
Siddarth, Prabha
Gaines, Jean M.
Parrish, John M.
Ercoli, Linda M.
Marx, Katherine
Ronch, Judah
Pilgram, Barbara
Burke, Kasey
Barczak, Nancy
Babcock, Bridget
Small, Gary W.
Source :: American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry; Jun2012, Vol. 20 Issue 6, p514-523, 10p
Publication Year :: 2012
Abstract: Context: Age-related memory decline affects a large proportion of older adults. Cognitive training, physical exercise, and other lifestyle habits may help to minimize self-perception of memory loss and a decline in objective memory performance. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a 6- week educational program on memory training, physical activity, stress reduction, and healthy diet led to improved memory performance in older adults. Design: A convenience sample of 115 participants (mean age: 80.9 [SD: 6.0 years]) was recruited from two continuing care retirement communities. The intervention consisted of 60-minute classes held twice weekly with 15-20 participants per class. Testing of both objective and subjective cognitive performance occurred at baseline, preintervention, and postintervention. Objective cognitive measures evaluated changes in five domains: immediate verbal memory, delayed verbal memory, retention of verbal information, memory recognition, and verbal fluency. A standardized metamemory instrument assessed four domains of memory self-awareness: frequency and severity of forgetting, retrospective functioning, and mnemonics use. Results: The intervention program resulted in significant improvements on objective measures of memory, including recognition of word pairs (t<subscript>[114]</subscript> = 3-62, p <0.001) and retention of verbal information from list learning (t<subscript>[114]</subscript> = 2.98, p <0.01). No improvement was found for verbal fluency. Regarding subjective memory measures, the retrospective functioning score increased significantly following the intervention (t<subscript>[114]</subscript> = 4.54,p <0.0001), indicating perception of a better memory. Conclusions: These findings indicate that a 6-week healthy lifestyle program can improve both encoding and recalling of new verbal information, as well as self-perception of memory ability in older adults residing in continuing care retirement communities. (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2012; 20:514-523) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]