Intervention with strategic metacognitive training in a population of elders with subjective cognitive decline

Abstract

Objectives: this research, conducted at the University Hospital of Alessandria, aimed to assess the impact of strategic metacognitive training on cognitive abilities, well-being, and the reduction of depressive symptoms in an elderly population. Materials and Methods: the study included a sample of 11 subjects, aged 66 to 81 years, exhibiting subjective cognitive decline. They had to learn mnemonic strategies and, through the metacognitive task, reflecting on the learning and application processes. The training included 10 sessions, once a week. Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) in pre-test and post-test evaluations. Ad hoc tests were employed to investigate the effects of practice and generalization. Well-being, measured through the Psychological Wellbeing Questionnaire (BEN-SSC), and depressive status, assessed with the 15-item short form Geriatric Depression Scale (sfGDS), were also evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: the cognitive measurements yielded no significant findings, except for a tendency toward significance in the visuospatial and language ability index of the RBANS, indicating a slight improvement. Regarding well-being and mood, also here no results emerged in favor of significance. The only significant data was a reduction in personal satisfaction according to the BEN-SSC. Conclusions: the obtained results may be explained by potential inadequacies in the methodology, specifically in the structure and planning of the training. However, participants expressed interest in this type of intervention, demonstrating adherence in other training program.