A Case Study of the Long-Lasting Effects of Cognitive Training on Similar Tasks in Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Objective: Cognitive training allows patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to reinforce their cognitive abilities. Here, we investigated the generalizability of trained skills to novel tasks, and their stability over time. Method: One patient underwent a structured cognitive training using the GEO (Geographical Exercise for cognitive Optimization) task, whereas 10 patients underwent a control intervention. Participants’ performances on the GEO task, on a similar untrained task, and on a different untrained task were recorded before and after the intervention, and at the 24-month follow-up. Results: On both the trained and the similar untrained tasks, patient’s and controls’ performance significantly differed from one another, with trained patient showing a significant acquirement of procedural skills that were maintained over time. Conclusion: Our preliminary evidence showed that a cognitive training could allow patients to acquire and maintain new skills not only on performing a trained task but surprisingly also on a similar untrained task.