Employing Verbal Divergent Thinking to Mitigate Cognitive Decline: Current State of Research and Reasons to Support Its Use
Background/Objectives: Divergent thinking (DT), the ability to generate alternative responses to open-ended problems, has become an increasingly relevant topic in aging research due to its inverse relationship with cognitive decline. Methods: In this narrative review, we explore the latest evidence...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Geriatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/9/6/142 |
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| author | Vasiliki Folia Susana Silva |
| author_facet | Vasiliki Folia Susana Silva |
| author_sort | Vasiliki Folia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Divergent thinking (DT), the ability to generate alternative responses to open-ended problems, has become an increasingly relevant topic in aging research due to its inverse relationship with cognitive decline. Methods: In this narrative review, we explore the latest evidence supporting DT training as a potential strategy for dementia prevention. Results: We identify two pathways through which DT may protect against cognitive decline: (1) by fostering creative cognition and (2) by stimulating DT-related domains. Our findings suggest that verbal DT remains relatively well preserved in older adults, although there is limited empirical evidence to support the idea that DT training enhances creative cognition or DT-related domains in this population. Conclusions: Therefore, while tools designed to enhance DT in older individuals seem promising, it is crucial to rigorously test their effects on the target population to maximize their impact on both the cognitive and psychological domains. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-13abd408882b48abba2bd0dc83187245 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2308-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-13abd408882b48abba2bd0dc831872452025-08-20T02:55:52ZengMDPI AGGeriatrics2308-34172024-11-019614210.3390/geriatrics9060142Employing Verbal Divergent Thinking to Mitigate Cognitive Decline: Current State of Research and Reasons to Support Its UseVasiliki Folia0Susana Silva1Lab of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 546 26 Thessaloniki, GreeceCenter for Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, s/n, 4200-135 Porto, PortugalBackground/Objectives: Divergent thinking (DT), the ability to generate alternative responses to open-ended problems, has become an increasingly relevant topic in aging research due to its inverse relationship with cognitive decline. Methods: In this narrative review, we explore the latest evidence supporting DT training as a potential strategy for dementia prevention. Results: We identify two pathways through which DT may protect against cognitive decline: (1) by fostering creative cognition and (2) by stimulating DT-related domains. Our findings suggest that verbal DT remains relatively well preserved in older adults, although there is limited empirical evidence to support the idea that DT training enhances creative cognition or DT-related domains in this population. Conclusions: Therefore, while tools designed to enhance DT in older individuals seem promising, it is crucial to rigorously test their effects on the target population to maximize their impact on both the cognitive and psychological domains.https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/9/6/142verbal divergent thinkingcreativitycognitive reservedementia prevention |
| spellingShingle | Vasiliki Folia Susana Silva Employing Verbal Divergent Thinking to Mitigate Cognitive Decline: Current State of Research and Reasons to Support Its Use Geriatrics verbal divergent thinking creativity cognitive reserve dementia prevention |
| title | Employing Verbal Divergent Thinking to Mitigate Cognitive Decline: Current State of Research and Reasons to Support Its Use |
| title_full | Employing Verbal Divergent Thinking to Mitigate Cognitive Decline: Current State of Research and Reasons to Support Its Use |
| title_fullStr | Employing Verbal Divergent Thinking to Mitigate Cognitive Decline: Current State of Research and Reasons to Support Its Use |
| title_full_unstemmed | Employing Verbal Divergent Thinking to Mitigate Cognitive Decline: Current State of Research and Reasons to Support Its Use |
| title_short | Employing Verbal Divergent Thinking to Mitigate Cognitive Decline: Current State of Research and Reasons to Support Its Use |
| title_sort | employing verbal divergent thinking to mitigate cognitive decline current state of research and reasons to support its use |
| topic | verbal divergent thinking creativity cognitive reserve dementia prevention |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/9/6/142 |
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