Maximizing cognition in mild cognitive impairment and early stage dementia

Cognitive interventions aim to positively impact cognition and ideally enable function in day-to-day life. A range of approaches have been developed for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early stage dementia, including cognitive training, cognitive strategy training, single component training, and cognitive rehabilitation. Cognitive rehabilitation shows promise as the only approach that specifically tailors the intervention to the goals of individuals, whereas the other approaches typically utilize a standardized approach. A growing body of research suggests that individualized cognitive rehabilitation helps people reach their goals in day-to-day life and may even delay the onset of institutionalization. However, there is less evidence to suggest that cognitive rehabilitation impacts on broader outcomes such as quality of life, mood, and self-efficacy. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed, including the need for more research into cognitive rehabilitation in MCI groups and direct comparisons with other approaches.

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