Efficacy of comprehensive non-drug intervention on cognitive function for community elderly: a prospective study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the comprehensive non-drug intervention effects on cognitive function for the elderly in a community.

MethodsA total of 120 people aged 60 and above in a community of Shanghai were included in the study, and divided into a comprehensive non-drug intervention group and control group.The elderly in intervention group had received comprehensive non-drug intervention training for 12 weeks and the comprehensive training methods were combined by cognitive training, aerobic training, relaxation training, life skill training, social function training, leisure entertainment and health self management.The two groups were evaluated before and after the intervention by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA).

ResultsBefore the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in visual space and executive function, naming, attention, language ability, abstract ability, delayed recall and directional force and total score(P > 0.05);Comparison after intervention:there were statistically significant differences in visual space and executive function, attention, delayed recall and directional force and total score in training group (P < 0.05), and all cognitive domain scores had no statistical significance in control group(P > 0.05).

ConclusionComprehensive non-drug intervention could partly improve and maintain cognitive function for community elderly, so as effectively to prevent dementia.