The information we have discovered in recent years about our brain is numerous and valuable: we know that it is plastic, that we can vary its structure when training different skills and that we have a cognitive reserve that plays a very important role in the face of the threat of neurodegenerative pathologies. Today we want to present some fundamental exercises for cognitive stimulation.
To do this, let’s start by distinguishing between stimulation, rehabilitation and cognitive training.
- These three ways of working with cognitive functions are a type of non-pharmacological intervention.
- It has been shown that with the application of these strategies the user obtains benefits that result in an improvement of their abilities or a brake on their degradation.
According to Jara (2007), an older person with a certain type of cognitive impairment can benefit from interventions in which these strategies are present, because, in short, they will always improve the quality of life.
“It is necessary to adapt the therapy to the patient, not the patient to the therapy” – Louis Theophile Joseph Landouzy-
Compared to today, cognitive stimulation has many advantages according to Villalba and Espert (2014). It is not found to cause side effects or drug interactions.
In addition, it facilitates personal contact with the therapist and others, which is a positive part of the patient’s behavior, thus improving the patient’s skills.
It is also a type of activity that allows to establish skills, showing the patient how they can make better use of the resources at their disposal. Finally, it is important to note that cognitive stimulation may be cheaper than other treatments.
Once some terms are clarified, we will introduce you to some simple exercises that have very positive results and can be done at home.
The exercise catalog is extensive and the variety is wide, we have the classic activity books that help us improve attention, memory or computing, brain training or brain training through new information and communication technologies.
In this case, it is important to work the orientation in the three areas: time, space and social circle. To improve orientation, which always worries you when a person starts showing signs of cognitive decline, we can work with everyday issues like:
The work we do will be all the more effective as it will be integrated into our daily lives. You can make lists to remember the names of kings, for example, but it will always be better to train with daily activities, such as shopping. List.
There are countless basic cognitive stimulation exercises that we can perform with everyday things.
On the other hand, the professionals are there to help us. We can read books, articles, and experiences, but ultimately they can give us the most valuable help.
It is the professionals who can advise us on aspects such as professional guidance, setting goals, choosing the instruments or tools that best suit our case, will also help us motivate ourselves, since the results of such interventions are manifested in the environment. long term.