Impacto de um programa de estimulação cognitiva na comunicação e cognição: um estudo com pessoas com demência institucionalizadas

Introduction: Dementia leads to progressive and irreversible cognitive and behavioural deterioration. Currently, the cognitive stimulation programme Making a Difference, mostly known as Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), is an evidence-based non-pharmacological intervention applied in mild to moderate stages of dementia. CST is widely known for its benefits in communication, social interaction, cognition and quality of life. This study aimed to assess the impact of the Portuguese version of the CST program on the communication and cognition of institutionalised older people with dementia. Methods: 48 people with dementia were randomly assigned to the experimental (N=28) and control groups (N=20). The first group underwent CST and the second received usual care. Neuropsychological assessments were conducted at pre and post-intervention. 274 Olhares sobre o Envelhecimento (2021), vol. I Results: At post-intervention, only the experimental group showed significant improvements in communication, more specifically in the following domains: a) conversation, and b) awareness and knowledge. Conclusion: This study confirmed the effectiveness of the Portuguese version of the CST in communication. This dimension is not typically considered as a relevant output of cognitive stimulation programmes. Our results stress the importance of considering this dimension, particularly when evaluating the impact of programmes with a psychosocial approach such as CST.