Cognitive stimulations effects and Taigeiko in elderly women’s cognition: an intervention

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention through cognitive stimulation associated with Taigeiko practice in memory performance and executive function of elderly women, compared to a group exposed to Taigeiko alone. METHOD: A quasi-experimental study was performed with 16 elderly women. 10 were allocated to the experimental group (EG) submitted to 16 sessions of cognitive stimulation and Taigeiko, and 6 elderly women in the control group (CG) submitted to Taigeiko alone. Cognition was assessed before and after intervention by the tests: Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning (RAVLT); Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test; Trail-Making Test; Stroop Effect; Digit Span Test and Semantic Verbal Fluency Test. RESULTS: Both groups presented differences in RAVLT domains (EG p=0.004, CG p=0.005) and Stroop Effect (EG p=0.012; CG p=0.024). However, in EG, better scores were shown in the tests, although not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Taigeiko has been shown to be a potential activity in obtaining cognitive gains, independently of the associated cognitive stimulation.