Indian Journal of Gerontology
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue: 4

Cognitive stimulation therapy's impact on mild cognitive impairment in older adults

  • Author:
  • M. Jhansi Rani1, K. Lalitha2
  • Total Page Count: 25
  • Page Number: 605 to 629

1Department of Psychiatry, Dr. PSIMS & RF, Chinna Avutapalli, Vijayawada-521286

2Department of Psychology, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa-516005 (A.P.)

Online published on 22 August, 2025.

Abstract

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in older adults is often a precursor to dementia and significantly affects cognitive and psychosocial functioning. This study evaluated the efficacy of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) in improving cognitive performance among older adults with MCI. A total of 30 participants diagnosed with MCI received 14 weeks of CST, while a control group received no intervention. Pre-and postintervention assessments using the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) revealed significant improvements in overall cognitive scores and specific domains, such as memory, attention, and fluency, in the CST group compared to the controls. These findings underscore the potential of CST as a non-pharmacological intervention to slow cognitive decline in MCI and significantly enhance the quality of life in older adults. The results support the incor poration of CST into community and clinical settings to promote cognitive health in ageing populations. The study recruited 30 participants aged 61- 75, with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Participants were divided into an experimental group, which underwent 14 weeks of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), and a control group that received no intervention. The findings indicated a statistically significant improvement in cognitive scores among CST participants, particularly in the domains of memory and language. Comparisons with the control group suggested that these improvements were distinct from typical changes observed over time, highlighting the potential benefits of the intervention. CST appears to provide substantial benefits for cognitive enhancement in older adults with MCI. These findings suggest that CST could serve as an effective, multifaceted intervention in managing MCI, thereby supporting cognitive well-being. Further research with larger sample sizes and more extended follow-up periods is war ranted to confirm these outcomes and explore their sustainability.

Keywords

Mild cognitive impairment in Older Adults, Impact of Cognitive stimulation therapy, Intervention efficacy, Cognitive stress