Nonpharmacological treatment of cognitive impairment: cognitive training guidelines

Abstract

Important aspects of the treatment of cognitive impairments are their early detection, prevention and timely prescription of drug therapy. The method of non-drug prevention and, at the same time, the treatment of cognitive impairment is cognitive training. There are cognitive training, cognitive stimulation and cognitive rehabilitation. The content of  cognitive training should be determined by the type and severity of the patient’s cognitive impairment; effectiveness depends, among other things, on the duration of the sessions and on the commitment of patients to cognitive training. At the Department of Nervous Diseases and Neurosurgery of Sechenov University, guidelines have been developed that allow cognitive training for patients with mild and moderate cognitive impairments. The effectiveness of methodological recommendations has been confirmed by studies; they were introduced into the work of the neurological and neurosurgical departments of the clinic of nervous diseases of the Sechenov University. Taking into account the development of modern technologies, it seems interesting and important to create methods of cognitive training that will allow the patient to study using a smartphone, tablet or computer, and the doctor to remotely monitor the well-being and track the results of the patient’s therapy. In the fall of 2022, the Health Formula program will be launched on the basis of the My Health app, designed specifically to support patients with cognitive impairments. Health Formula is an online service for remote communication between a doctor and a patient, the purpose of which is to increase patient compliance and the effectiveness of the treatment itself. The application will contain a set of cognitive exercises to complement the prescribed drug therapy. At the initial stage, the course will be a balanced selection of video exercises, which will later be included in the global interactive program for patients with CI.