Cognitive training and rehabilitation is one of the key factors that can improve our cognitive health. Read further to find out more about cognitive health, and how various types of cognitive or memory training can help.
What is cognitive health?
Cognitive health refers to your ability to think, learn, and remember effectively. It’s crucial for everyday activities such as managing finances, planning meals and transportation, remembering medications, and engaging in meaningful conversations.
As we age, it’s normal to experience some decline in cognitive abilities, including slower processing speeds, reduced working memory, and challenges with multitasking. However, factors like genetics, lifestyle, and pre-existing health conditions can exacerbate these changes, potentially leading to neurocognitive disorders like Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Dementia.
How to Reduce the Risk of Cognitive Impairment
Research shows that staying mentally active can help lower the risk of cognitive impairment and slow down cognitive decline (Livingston et al., 2024). Engaging in activities that challenge your brain can be particularly beneficial. Keeping your mind active and engaged is key to maintaining cognitive health.
Tell me more about Computerized Cognitive Training!
Computerized cognitive training uses structured and repetitive exercises designed to boost specific cognitive skills, much like physical training drills but for the brain. Cognitive training aims to enhance neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt and grow through new experiences.
Computerized cognitive training can be delivered through various devices such as desktop computers, touch-screen tablets, and virtual reality interfaces.
Some benefits include an improvement in global cognitive function and episodic memory in cognitively healthy older adults (Gates et al., 2020). Additionally, supervised training has been found to enhance verbal, visual, and working memory in individuals with MCI and dementia (Chan et al., 2024).
How is Computerized Cognitive Training done?
First, a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment will be conducted to identify your cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Based on this assessment, we develop a tailored training program that targets specific cognitive domains. Our training utilizes evidence-based apps on touch-screen tablets. Memory, attentional and executive function techniques will also be taught, depending on the individuals’ needs.
Zaylea Kua, our clinical psychologist specializing in cognition and older persons, brings extensive experience in delivering these programs to individuals.
For those interested in enhancing their cognitive skills independently, several brain training apps are available. Notable options include BrainHQ, Cognifit and Lumosity. These apps are user-friendly and can be accessed on various devices, making them a convenient option for anyone looking to keep their mind sharp and engaged.
What is Cognitive Rehabilitation?
Cognitive rehabilitation is all about empowering you with strategies to make everyday tasks easier and more manageable. Our dedicated psychologists will work closely with you to set personalized goals. For example, some goals include improving your memory for grocery lists or refining your planning skills for scheduling appointments. We also introduce techniques like chunking, mnemonics, and visualization to boost memory recall and make tasks more manageable.
However, cognitive health isn’t just about strategies—it’s also about staying engaged. Pursuing stimulating hobbies like engaging conversations, playing music, baking, or solving puzzles can make a real difference for individuals with MCI and dementia.
To support this, Zaylea Kua has authored “Boost Your Brain – Cognitive Exercises for Brain Health”. This is a cognitive activity book packed with 12 weeks of puzzles and practical tips designed to keep your mind sharp.
Take the first step towards better cognitive health
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References & Links
Chan, A. T., Ip, R. T., Tran, J. Y., Chan, J. Y., & Tsoi, K. K. (2024). Computerized cognitive training for memory functions in mild cognitive impairment or dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. NPJ Digital Medicine, 7(1), 1.
Gates, N. J., Rutjes, A. W., Di Nisio, M., Karim, S., Chong, L. Y., March, E., Martínez, G., & Vernooij, R. W. (2020). Computerised cognitive training for 12 or more weeks for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in late life. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2(2), CD012277.
Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Liu, K. Y., Costafreda, S. G., Selbæk, G., Alladi, S., Ames, D., Banerjee, S., Burns, A., Brayne, C., Fox, N. C., Ferri, C. P., Gitlin, L. N., Howard, R., Kales, H. C., Kivimäki, M., Larson, E. B., Nakasujja, N., Rockwood, K., Samus, Q., … Mukadam, N. (2024). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. Lancet (London, England), 404(10452), 572–628.
