The objective of this study was to investigate, using selected neuropsychological tests, the
duration of the beneficial effects of multisensory and cognitive stimulation program in two
groups of elderly living in community or in long term care institutions. The participants were
institutionalized (n = 20, 75.1 ± 6.8 years old) and non-institutionalized (n =15, 74.1 ± 3.9
years old; mean ± standard deviation), with 65 years or more with no history of traumatic
brain injury, cerebrovascular accident or major depression, minimal visual acuity 20/30 as
measured by the Snellen test and regular participation in the program of somato-motor and
cognitive stimulation. Revaluations were conducted after completion of multisensory and
cognitive intervention, in five consecutive time windows (2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 months). Both
elderly groups were submitted to the following tests: Boston naming; semantic and
phonological verbal fluencies, Mini Mental State Examination, Narrative Tests based on the
picture “The Theft of Biscuits” and selected tests of the Montreal Battery of Evaluation of
Communication, and of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB).
CANTAB tests included Motor Screening Test; Rapid Visual Information Processing;
Reaction Time; Paired Associated Learning - PAL; Spatial Working Memory - SWM, and
delayed matching to sample. As compared with non-institutionalized a higher rate of
cognitive decline was observed in the institutionalized elderly. These results are in line with
previous report that associated the poor environmental stimuli of long-term care institutions
with faster aging cognitive decline. Furthermore, the ROC analysis indicated a higher
specificity, selectivity and efficiency for PAL and SWM tests of the CANTAB battery. as
well as memory space for work efficiency allowing the distinction between I and NI groups at
all-time windows. The results demonstrated gradual cognitive decline after ended the
stimulation program in both groups, with earlier and more severe losses in institutionalized
elderly than in those living in the community with their families. The duration of the
beneficial effects were closely related to the nature of the workshops and therefore the scores
of language tests declined more slowly. The results are of interest to the planner of public
policies to recommend regular programs of somato-motor and cognitive stimulation for
elderly to reduce the progression of aging cognitive decline.
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