“Brain Training” Can Improve Life for Dementia Patients

FEATURED SEARCH TERM:   “cognitive rehabilitation”




Non-pharmacologic therapies for dementia, such as group-based cognitive stimulation therapy, can lead to improvements in cognition and quality of life, state the authors of the report below. Other more personalized approaches, such as cognitive rehabilitation, may be more appropriate for those with more severe forms of dementia.

RESULT: Should we use individual cognitive stimulation therapy to improve cognitive function in people with dementia?
British Medical Journal | Feb 15, 2012 (Free abstract. Full text $30)




Individually tailored cognitive rehabilitation training can be successfully applied to non-communicative patients with severe brain lesions. Two case studies show how the authors used alternate means of communications to help patients with significant speech disabilities.    


RESULT: Cognitive rehabilitation therapy in traumatic brain injury
The Lancet | Oct 22, 2011 (Free abstract. Full text $31.50)



However, this review of 90 studies published from 1991 to 2011 states there is limited evidence for the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation therapy for traumatic brain injury. These authors called for a comprehensive registry of cognitive rehabilitation therapy interventions.


RESULT: Cognitive rehabilitation in non-communicative brain-damaged patients
Functional Neurology (PubMed) | Oct 22, 2011 (FREE FULL TEXT)