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Cognitive Intervention for Patients with Neurocognitive Impairments

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Primary Care Mental Health in Older People

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Abstract

The prevalence of neurocognitive disorders is rising. In the last 20 years, there has been increased interest for the development of cognitive interventions to prevent the onset and/or delay the progression to dementia in at-risk older adults. Cognitive interventions are not a unitary concept. It comprises several varieties of interventions such as cognitive stimulation, cognitive training, and cognitive rehabilitation. Research suggests these treatment approaches may have a chance at improving or stabilizing cognition in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Moreover, it seems cognitive intervention would be most efficient with patients who are aware, motivated and able to remember and apply the learned skills. Indeed, data from recent literature suggests cognitive intervention should begin before the onset of manifest memory impairment and should be implemented as a form of cognitive prevention where patients are educated about the modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s while performing cognitive training and learning new strategies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Genevieve Gagnon Ph.D. C.Psych.

  2. Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Genevieve Gagnon Ph.D. C.Psych.

  3. Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Genevieve Gagnon Ph.D. C.Psych. & Marjolaine Masson Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Genevieve Gagnon Ph.D. C.Psych.
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  2. Marjolaine Masson Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Genevieve Gagnon Ph.D. C.Psych. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Unité de Psychiatrie et de Psychothérapie, Centre Les Toises, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Carlos Augusto de Mendonça Lima

  2. Mental Health and Population Health, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    Gabriel Ivbijaro

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Gagnon, G., Masson, M. (2019). Cognitive Intervention for Patients with Neurocognitive Impairments. In: de Mendonça Lima, C., Ivbijaro, G. (eds) Primary Care Mental Health in Older People. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10814-4_26

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