Improved executive functioning in healthy older adults after multifactorial cognitive training targeting controlled processes

Among the different cognitive training approaches tested in healthy older adults, multifactorial programs, which target higher-order processes such as memory and attention, best promote the transfer of learning to untrained cognitive processes. Objective: In the present study, we investigated the effects of a multifactorial cognitive training program on executive functions in older adults. Method: This training was developed to embed the processing of executive information in memory and attention training tasks, and mnemonic and executive strategies were implemented progressively throughout training. Results: The results showed that this training program (24 sessions, 2 sessions per week) improved executive functions in older adults (n=15; mean age=74.5±2.1). Significant improvements were found for the switching and inhibition of irrelevant stimuli. We also report enhanced performance in the efficiency of a dual-task activity. Additionally, we report that these benefits were present at the 6-month follow-up without any additional training. Conclusion: Taken together with previous results obtained with the same training protocol, the present results showed that the multifactorial training program we developed is an efficient tool to positively act on memory-related and executive aspects of the cognitive decline found in normal aging.