COGNITIVE AND PHYSICAL INTERVENTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MILD NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDER: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Susan S. McCool ； Cari E. Autry

《International Leisure Review》 8卷1期 (2019/07) Pp. 49-65

https://doi.org/10.6298/ILR.201907_8(1).0004

摘要

Individuals with a mild neurocognitive disorder (NCD) are noted to have a mild impairment in cognitive functioning. Studies have shown that both physical and cognitive stimulation therapies are capable of improving cognitive functioning and even decreasing cognitive decline. A systematic review of the literature was used to show the effectiveness of these two therapeutic recreation modalities on improving cognitive functioning and decreasing cognitive decline, with the absence of a pharmacological approach. Considering the significant positive effects physical and cognitive interventions have separately on cognitive functioning of individuals with NCD, it was theorized that utilizing a multi-modal approach of the two interventions would prove to have an even more significant positive effect. A search was conducted utilizing journals from multiple disciplines where only quantitative research was conducted in 2010-2017 pertaining to cognitive and/or physical interventions with effects on cognitive functioning in individuals with NCD. Statistical methods within the framework of a systematic review were used to provide an overall summary of the research results available for these two interventions and cognitive functioning. The results and discussion provide recreational therapists with the background to not only help improve the cognitive functioning of their clients with NCD, but also with information of interventions that may assist in reducing cognitive decline in individuals with mild NCD. In addition, implications for recreational therapy practice include an evidence-based approach to developing cognitive and physical treatment programs for individuals with NCD. Future research on physical interventions, cognitive interventions, or a multi-modal approach of the two is also discussed.

關鍵字

therapeutic recreation ； recreational therapist ； systematic review ； mild neurocognitive disorder ； NCD ； cognitive interventions ； physical interventions ； multi-modal interventions