Effects of a program based on everyday cognition on healthy older adults: A randomized clinical trial

The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention based on everyday cognition versus traditional cognitive stimulation for improving functionality, frailty, cognitive, and emotional states in healthy older adults.

This study was designed as a controlled, stratified, double-blind clinical trial with group randomization; it featured two parallel arms with fixed assignment to the two intervention groups, control and experimental (NCT05688163). The planned sample size (n=99) was based on prior studies reporting significant effects on everyday cognition.

The participants were non-institutionalized older adults over 60 years old, residing in Salamanca, who voluntarily decided to participate in the occupational therapy program, organized by the University of Salamanca in collaboration with the City Council of Salamanca.

The control group received a traditional cognitive stimulation program, while the experimental group received an everyday cognition-based intervention MEASUREMENTS: Sociodemographic variables included age, sex, educational level, and marital status. The following assessments were administered: PA-IADL, MoCA, Yesavage, Lawton and Brody, FIM and FRAIL.

The final study sample (n=101) comprised 85.1% women and 14.9% men, with a mean age of 76.98(±6.03) years. Statistically significant differences (p<0.001) were observed in the experimental group in everyday cognition, emotional status, and frailty, compared to the control group. Regarding the variables of basic activities of daily living and basic cognitive functions, both groups achieved statistically significant differences (p<0.001) upon completing both interventions.

The use of programs based on everyday cognition as a neurocognitive intervention in healthy older adults is effective in preserving functional, cognitive, and emotional capacity in healthy older adults.