Introduction
Cognitive training programs have been subjected to debates and research regarding their effectiveness in improving working memory among older adults. Working memory refers to a complex cognitive system comprising storage (short-term memory) and executive components responsible for maintaining and processing information (Rodas et al., 2024). Engaging in cognitive training intervention or physical exercises is essential to enhance working memory among elderly individuals effectively (Assecondi et al., 2022). A higher component of mental health is adequate cognitive function. I understand that when a person has sufficient cognitive functioning, the mind of such an individual can understand, interact with, and adapt to the environment. I will evaluate whether cognitive training programs can enhance working memory among older adults as their memory and cognitive functioning decline as they age. According to Wu et al. (2023), cognitive training intervention has effectively delayed cognitive aging and enhanced working memory. The authors further explain that cognitive-training-based interventions are linked to positive effects on cognitive functioning among elderly individuals. Therefore, in this paper, I am evaluating the efficacy of cognitive training programs in enhancing working memory among older adults.
Rationale
Aging among individuals is associated with reduced cognitive abilities and memory loss. It is of great significance to have programs that enhance cognitive abilities for the effective functioning of memory among older adults. Improving working memory among older adults is essential for maintaining cognitive functioning (Rodas et al., 2024). Working memory is a crucial cognitive component that enables an individual to reason well and engage in problem-solving, learning, and decision-making approaches. Besides, improving working memory through cognitive training programs is essential among older adults for maintaining overall cognitive function (Wu et al., 2023). That, in turn, allows them to better cope with cognitive challenges brought about by the aging process.
Research Question
How effective are cognitive training programs for improving working memory among older adults?
Efficacy of Cognitive Training Programs among Older Adults
Cognitive decline and dementia are health problems impacting the majority of older people. When an individual experiences cognitive decline performance, such an individual may not be able to maintain social functioning. Cognitive training programs are crucial when it comes to restoring cognitive functioning and enhancing working memory among older adults. According to Wu et al. (2023), cognitive training programs are considered effective interventions for cognitive functioning and eventually improve working memory. Cognitive training programs can be conducted in various forms. One of the most critical training programs is the computerized training program.Rodas et al. (2024) explain that a brief regimen of multitasking CCT that comprised several span tasks resulted in improved clinical and healthy populations. That resulted in the development of a company that provides cognitive training services, thus underlining the potential commercial viability and utility of working memory-focused training initiatives. Consistent use of such training enhances intelligence among older adults (Rodas et al., 2024). The findings indicate that brief interventions can result in significant improvements in cognitive abilities among elderly people.
The research done by Bonnechère et al. (2021) indicates that over the last decade, the accessibility and utilization of smartphones among people of different ages has expanded quickly. With that, the industry of mobile game applications has exploded. The authors further explain that the apps have been created majorly to boost the ‘training’ and challenging of cognition. For example, the app ‘How Old Is Our Brain’ is a brain training game developed by Dr. Kawashima in 2006 (Bonnechère et al., 2021). Since the time the app was released, a lot of research has been carried out to test its efficacy in enhancing cognitive functioning and improving working memory. According to the findings of these studies, people aged 65 and older who are subjected to computerized cognitive training have shown improved cognitive functioning and working memory. The results of the studies further indicate that mobile games’ adoption and utilization are crucial in training cognition. More importantly, Bonnechère et al. (2021) explain that there is a beneficial effect of using structured cognitive training. For instance, computerized and commercially available applications such as Cognitive Mobile Games support cognitive training among older people (Bonnechère et al., 2021). Bonnechère et al. (2021) said that cognitive mobile games employed word-processing tasks. After subjecting the older adults to word-processing tasks spearheaded through cognitive mobile games, the authors observed increased word-processing scores compared to the control group not subjected to the training program. Accordingly, the word processing game was appropriate for elderly individuals since it results in the maintenance of efficient lexical processing, indicating semantic learning abilities. Also, the word processing speed improved among older people subjected to training programs. Processing speed was observed as the participants in the cognitive mobile games training program tended to recall the words used during the training exercise (Bonnechère et al., 2021). That means cognitive mobile games are important cognitive training programs that improve working memory among the elderly.
According to the research done by Wu et al. (2023), engaging in physical and cognitive training programs among older people is a crucial non-pharmacological behavior aimed at inhibiting cognitive aging among older adults. When older adults are subjected to physical exercises to challenge their cognitive functioning, there will be an improvement in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is linked to exercises. The authors further explain that cognitive training intervention has been shown to delay cognitive aging effectively. Also, cognitive training has improved dopaminergic neurotransmission, resulting in consolidation and improved cognition performance among older individuals. Accordingly, multi-domain cognitive training programs have been demonstrated to be effective in enhancing working memory in older people (Wu et al., 2023). By combining physical exercises with cognitive training programs, one will realize a superior effect on cognitive functioning (Rodas et al., 2024).
Improving Working Memory among Older Adults through Cognitive Training Programs
Matysiak et al. (2019) explain that aging is linked to a decline in a variety of cognitive functions and deterioration of working memory. Attempting to counteract the reduction in working memory is of great significance and beneficial to older adults. Working memory is a significant component of cognitive functioning. It plays a critical role in daily life, including problem-solving, decision-making, and problem-solving approaches. If the working memory is not enhanced through cognitive interventions, exercises, and training, it will result in difficulties while performing cognitive tasks. The training memory training programs enable an individual to engage in a series of exercises and activities designed mainly to challenge and strengthen the working memory capacity. According to Assecondi et al. (2022), working memory training mostly involves undertaking particular tasks to enhance memory speed and working. The authors further postulate that individuals can develop and learn new skills up to ancient age. This enhances plastic brain changes. For instance, training executive function can result in structural changes and general improvement in the volume of the frontal and parietal regions of the brain. Cognitive training has been associated with education. Assecondi et al. (2020) show that higher education is crucial as it enhances working memory abilities. When an individual is exposed to cognitive training programs, his or her working memory improves. However, lower exposure to cognitive training and exercises can result in lower working memory speed. According to the researchers of this study, exposure to cognitive training programs is critical, especially in attaining lower-lasting maintenance and improvements in working memory. Therefore, older adults who are experiencing lower working memory capacity can highly benefit from cognitive training programs. Assecondi et al. (2020) further conducted research to test the effectiveness of improving working memory in older adults using tDCS—transcranial direct current stimulation, a cognitive training program. The study employed a 5-day training regimen. In that program, participants were tasked to complete 20 minutes of combined working memory training and tDCS for five consecutive weekends. After the end of the exercise, an evaluation was done to determine if there was an improvement in the working memory. The findings indicated that tDCS concurrent with working memory training had a selective benefit to the old individuals experiencing lower working memory capacity. Also, the researchers found that working memory performance significantly improved during the training program (Assecondi et al., 2020).
A combined training regimen can boost individuals working memory by enhancing speed and cognitive functioning skills. Zhao et al. (2023) support this by explaining that cognitive training programs have demonstrated promising impacts for improving the cognitive domains, especially among individuals experiencing mild cognitive impairment. For example, the P-bM-tACT program, a cognitive training program developed by the researchers in this study, was important to the working memory among older adults. According to the researchers, this training program facilitated the transfer effect of working memory improvement. The researchers borrowed the Dahlin theory, which suggests that the transfer effect likely occurs when training and transfer tasks engage in overlapping processes. The program was further found to promote extraordinary training impacts such as perceptual speed, mental ability, and cognitive performance.
Cognitive training programs also improve working memory speed among older adults. Cognitive training programs target cognitive processes associated with processing executive functioning and speed. According to Bonnechère et al. (2021), cognitive training programs improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the brain. An individual’s processing speed comprises the rate at which a person can perceive, process, and respond to particular information (Rodas et al., 2024). The exercises can involve tasks such as rapid visual and auditory processing. Therefore, cognitive training programs among adults can improve their ability to respond quickly to societal information and issues. Bonnechère et al. (2021) explain that older individuals, through cognitive training programs, can quickly and efficiently be able to encode, manipulate, and retrieve data available in the working memory.
Matysiak et al. (2019) investigated the effect of cognitive training on the working memory of healthy older adults in Poland. After subjecting elderly adults to the dual N-back task, a brain training program, the results showed that the majority of the older adults who participated in the program were able to improve their working memory abilities. The dual N-back task training program employs auditory and visual attention skills. These were considered cognitive functions, which mostly decline with age. Both the physical and virtual training of older adults using the program revealed a significant learning effect with the N-back task (Matysiak et al., 2019). Therefore, the N-back task, being a cognitive training program, generally improves working memory among the elderly population.
Conclusion
Conclusively, after examining different studies, I found that cognitive training programs are critical in improving working memory. Cognitive training programs are aimed at enhancing the working memory among older people. Working memory is a crucial component of cognitive function. It plays an essential role, especially in daily life, in problem-solving, decision-making, and learning. This research has taught me that as individuals age, their cognitive ability reduces, negatively impacting their working memory. The cognitive training programs that are developed are crucial in improving working memory among older adults. I found out that engaging older adults in cognitive training programs such as computerized training programs, personalized training programs, and cognitive mobile games is essential in improving their cognitive functioning and working memory abilities. Cognitive training programs among older people effectively challenge their working memory speed and performance, resulting in improved working memory statuses. Besides, cognitive training programs target working memory aspects such as spatial memory, attention control, and verbal memory abilities. These, in turn, promote cognitive skill development, thus improving working memory among older adults.
References
Assecondi, S., Hu, R., Kroeker, J., Eskes, G., & Shapiro, K. (2022). Older adults with lower working memory capacity benefit from transcranial direct current stimulation when combined with working memory training: a preliminary study. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 14, 1009262. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9589058/
Bonnechère, B., Klass, M., Langley, C., & Sahakian, B. J. (2021). Brain training using cognitive apps can improve cognitive performance and processing speed in older adults. Scientific reports, 11(1), 12313. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-91867-z
Matysiak, O., Kroemeke, A., & Brzezicka, A. (2019). Working memory capacity as a predictor of cognitive training efficacy in the elderly population. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 11, 126. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00126/full
Rodas, J. A., Asimakopoulou, A. A., & Greene, C. M. (2024). Can we enhance working memory? Bias and effectiveness in cognitive training studies. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 1-24. https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-024-02466-8#:~:text=Meta%2Danalyses%20have%20found%20that,tasks%20for%20assessment%20and%20training.
Wu, Y., Zang, M., Wang, B., & Guo, W. (2023). Does the combination of exercise and cognitive training improve working memory in older adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis. PeerJ, 11, e15108. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10100799/
Zhao, X., Ji, C., Zhang, C., Huang, C., Zhou, Y., & Wang, L. (2023). Transferability and sustainability of process-based multitask adaptive cognitive training in community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. BMC psychiatry, 23(1), 418. https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-023-04917-3
write