Non pharmacological therapy of mental imagery and relaxation in patients with mild cognitive impairement
POPTSI Ε.^1,3, ΚOUNTI F.^1,3, ΤSOLAKI, Μ.^1,2
1Greek Alzheimer Association
²Medical School, ΑΠΘ
³Alzheimer Association of Kalamaria

The organization of memory may be damaged and memories may loose their coherence under the effect of stress. Therefore, stress reduction might be associated with memory and attention improvement. Aim: The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a therapeutic program based on Mental Imagery and Relaxation, on cognitive, functional and emotional performance, in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Method: The participants were 15 MCI women patients, classified in experimental and control groups. Groups were matched in age (p=0.891), education (p=0.248), emotional performance (p=0.408) and cognitive functions that were examined for the purposes of the study. The experimental group participated in a 6 month, non pharmacological, mental imagery therapeutic program, while the control group did not, for practical reasons. Neuropsychological assessment was performed at baseline, at the end of the therapy and 4 months after the end of it. Results: At the end of the therapy, experimental group was improved in respect to controls, in executive function (p<=0.047), memory (p<=0.040), language (p=0.036), attention (p<=0.039), general cognitive function (p<=0.037), and emotional performance (p=0.005). The experimental group, at the end of the therapy, appeared an improvement in verbal memory (p= 0.016), language (p<=0.034), visual perception (p=0.031), visual memory (p=0.034), general cognitive performance (p<=0.046), depression (p<=0.031) and daily function (p= 0.005). Four months after the end of the therapy, experimental group showed cognitive, emotional, and functional stability and further improvement in verbal memory (p=0.013), language (p<=0.016), attention (p=0.011) and psychomotor speed (p=0.017). On the contrary, control group, 6 months after the initial assessment and 4 months as well after the second one, has shown stability in cognitive, functional, and emotional performance. Conclusion: Mental imagery therapeutic program under relaxation, helped participants to treat depression symptoms as well as improve their cognitive and functional performance. Encephalos 2010, 47(1):23-36.

Key words: Mild cognitive impairment, stress, mental imagery, relaxation techniques.