Training Contributions of Executive Functions in Perception of Quality of Life in Elderly

Aims: Verify the presence or lack of improvement in quality of life perception, comparing the results of the evaluation from both elderly groups that participated on the executive functions training research.

Study Design: This is a quantitative, quasi-experimental, correlational study, with pre- and post-tests and intervention, with a control group for comparing.

Place and Duration of Study: Program of Graduate Studies in Psychology (PUCRS), between April 2013 and September 2013.

Methodology: 145 participants, all over 60 years old. Instruments: a battery of neuropsychological evaluations of cognitive functions, and the WHOQOL-OLD and WHOQOL-BREF, before and after cognitive testing. The participants from the experimental group participated in eight sessions of cognitive training (CT). 83 subjects agreed to participate in the research, 16 men (19.3 percent) and 67 women (80.7 percent). They were divided into a Control Group (CG, n=38) and an Experimental Group (EG, n=45).

Results: Comparing the results between groups, there was a significant difference in the scores related to quality of life, especially in the Past-Present-Future activity of the WHOQOL-OLD (p=0.025). The EG participants increased their score significantly in this domain when compared to the CG. The EG had significant improvement in the Past-Present-Future activity of the WHOQOL-OLD (p=0.002) and in total score (p=0.014). The CG had significant improvement in the total score of the WHOQOL-BREF (p=0.041).

Conclusion: The training of executive functions utilizing the program named above contributed for the improvement of life quality in elders.