Does a cognitive-training programme improve the performance of middle-aged employees undergoing in-patient psychosomatic treatment?

Abstract

With the ever-increasing average life expectancy and rising age of retirement, cognitive and work capacities in advanced age take on great importance. Cognitive impairments, however, increase with age. The effect of cognitive-training programmes on people with mild cognitive impairment has not been verified in any systematic investigations. This study presents a cognitive-training programme designed for middle-aged employees that was implemented and evaluated at the Psychosomatic Clinic Bad Neustadt/Saale in an AB study design (A: no intervention; B: intervention). Memory performance of the intervention group (n = 33) improved significantly between intake and discharge, compared with that of the control group (n = 40), as did self-ratings of memory and work-related attitudes. A cognitive-training programme is useful and effective in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Future studies should investigate how older or more severely impaired patients benefit from such a programme.