Cognitive Stimulation and Its Effects on Well-Being, Executive Functions, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Adults from a Mexican Geriatric Center: A Quasi-Experimental Study
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> The progressive increase in the aging population highlights the need for interventions aimed at preserving cognitive health and overall well-being in older adults. This study aimed to assess the impact of a structured cognitive training program on psychologi...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Nadia Yanet Cortés-Álvarez César Rubén Vuelvas-Olmos Leticia Gabriela Marmolejo-Murillo Elizabeth Sánchez-Duarte Alfredo Lara-Morales |
| author_facet | Nadia Yanet Cortés-Álvarez César Rubén Vuelvas-Olmos Leticia Gabriela Marmolejo-Murillo Elizabeth Sánchez-Duarte Alfredo Lara-Morales |
| author_sort | Nadia Yanet Cortés-Álvarez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> The progressive increase in the aging population highlights the need for interventions aimed at preserving cognitive health and overall well-being in older adults. This study aimed to assess the impact of a structured cognitive training program on psychological well-being, executive function performance, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor levels (BDNF) in older adults from a Mexican geriatric center. <b>Methods:</b> A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a nonequivalent control group was conducted. Thirty-two older adults were assigned either to a cognitive stimulation intervention group or a control group. The intervention consisted of 120 individually structured sessions, each lasting approximately 60 min, delivered five times per week over 24 weeks. Independent neuropsychologists, blinded to group allocation, assessed executive function (BANFE-3), depressive symptoms (Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale), autonomy in daily living (Barthel Index), and quality of life (WHOQOL-OLD) before and after the intervention. Serum BDNF levels were also measured. <b>Results:</b> The intervention group showed significant improvements in executive function, depressive symptoms, independence in daily activities, and quality of life, while the control group showed no changes. Additionally, the intervention group showed an increase in BDNF expression post-intervention. <b>Conclusions:</b> The cognitive stimulation program effectively improved cognitive performance, emotional well-being, autonomy, and quality of life in older adults. These findings highlight the importance of integrating structured cognitive stimulation into geriatric care. For nursing practice, this underscores the key role nurses can play in delivering cognitive interventions to promote cognitive health, independence, and emotional stability among institutionalized and non-institutionalized older adults. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-77fa051e2c824e42b73b7175ef89955d |
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| issn | 2039-439X 2039-4403 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Nursing Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-77fa051e2c824e42b73b7175ef89955d2025-08-20T02:33:55ZengMDPI AGNursing Reports2039-439X2039-44032025-04-0115515110.3390/nursrep15050151Cognitive Stimulation and Its Effects on Well-Being, Executive Functions, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Adults from a Mexican Geriatric Center: A Quasi-Experimental StudyNadia Yanet Cortés-Álvarez0César Rubén Vuelvas-Olmos1Leticia Gabriela Marmolejo-Murillo2Elizabeth Sánchez-Duarte3Alfredo Lara-Morales4Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Division of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Guanajuato, León 37150, MexicoMedical Sciences Program, School of Medicine, University of Colima, Colima 28040, MexicoDepartment of Medicine and Nutrition, Division of Health Sciences, University of Guanajuato, León 37150, MexicoDepartment of Applied Sciences to Labor, Division of Health Sciences, University of Guanajuato, León 37150, MexicoDepartment of Nursing and Midwifery, Division of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Guanajuato, León 37150, Mexico<b>Background/Objectives:</b> The progressive increase in the aging population highlights the need for interventions aimed at preserving cognitive health and overall well-being in older adults. This study aimed to assess the impact of a structured cognitive training program on psychological well-being, executive function performance, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor levels (BDNF) in older adults from a Mexican geriatric center. <b>Methods:</b> A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a nonequivalent control group was conducted. Thirty-two older adults were assigned either to a cognitive stimulation intervention group or a control group. The intervention consisted of 120 individually structured sessions, each lasting approximately 60 min, delivered five times per week over 24 weeks. Independent neuropsychologists, blinded to group allocation, assessed executive function (BANFE-3), depressive symptoms (Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale), autonomy in daily living (Barthel Index), and quality of life (WHOQOL-OLD) before and after the intervention. Serum BDNF levels were also measured. <b>Results:</b> The intervention group showed significant improvements in executive function, depressive symptoms, independence in daily activities, and quality of life, while the control group showed no changes. Additionally, the intervention group showed an increase in BDNF expression post-intervention. <b>Conclusions:</b> The cognitive stimulation program effectively improved cognitive performance, emotional well-being, autonomy, and quality of life in older adults. These findings highlight the importance of integrating structured cognitive stimulation into geriatric care. For nursing practice, this underscores the key role nurses can play in delivering cognitive interventions to promote cognitive health, independence, and emotional stability among institutionalized and non-institutionalized older adults.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/5/151cognitive stimulationexecutive functionswell-beingBrain-Derived Neurotrophic Factorolder adultsgeriatric center |
| spellingShingle | Nadia Yanet Cortés-Álvarez César Rubén Vuelvas-Olmos Leticia Gabriela Marmolejo-Murillo Elizabeth Sánchez-Duarte Alfredo Lara-Morales Cognitive Stimulation and Its Effects on Well-Being, Executive Functions, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Adults from a Mexican Geriatric Center: A Quasi-Experimental Study Nursing Reports cognitive stimulation executive functions well-being Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor older adults geriatric center |
| title | Cognitive Stimulation and Its Effects on Well-Being, Executive Functions, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Adults from a Mexican Geriatric Center: A Quasi-Experimental Study |
| title_full | Cognitive Stimulation and Its Effects on Well-Being, Executive Functions, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Adults from a Mexican Geriatric Center: A Quasi-Experimental Study |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive Stimulation and Its Effects on Well-Being, Executive Functions, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Adults from a Mexican Geriatric Center: A Quasi-Experimental Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive Stimulation and Its Effects on Well-Being, Executive Functions, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Adults from a Mexican Geriatric Center: A Quasi-Experimental Study |
| title_short | Cognitive Stimulation and Its Effects on Well-Being, Executive Functions, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Adults from a Mexican Geriatric Center: A Quasi-Experimental Study |
| title_sort | cognitive stimulation and its effects on well being executive functions and brain derived neurotrophic factor in older adults from a mexican geriatric center a quasi experimental study |
| topic | cognitive stimulation executive functions well-being Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor older adults geriatric center |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/5/151 |
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