Can We Recreate Memory? - Reversing Age-related Cognitive Decline | The HEAD Foundation Dialogues

What if we could arrest the idea that cognitive decline is inevitable?
On 29 August 2024, cognitive coaches and Republic Polytechnic lecturers David Chin and Josephine Tay shared their experiences redefining cognitive health in Singapore’s Active Ageing Centres (AACs) as part of our Dialogues series, co-organised with Republic Polytechnic. Using Feuerstein’s Thinking Memory Programme, David and Josephine localised and piloted the programme with elderly in Golden Saffron AAC and Kreta Ayer AAC as a means of stimulating cognitive ability for dementia prevention.
Singapore had 92,000 people living with dementia in 2021, and this number is expected to rise to 152,000 by 2030. To combat the anticipated rising cost of healthcare in Singapore, the government is focusing on preventive healthcare instead. The 15-week Mediated Learning Experience programme aimed to develop in elderly participants socio-emotional capacity, a sense of agency, and improved memory, as part of preventative care for dementia.
Mdm Zaiton Binte Zainal, a participant in the programme, shared her experiences going through the training:
“Before attending the programme, I had a fear of getting into trouble, of hurting people’s feelings, and of being impulsive and jumping to premature conclusions. During the programme, I was prompted to slow down and understand instructions completely before acting on a task. I learnt to be systematic in analysing challenges, think calmly, and break things down into smaller parts.”
The results of the pilot test demonstrated that participants gained cognitive awareness of their emotional reactions, increased emotional regulation, and developed organisational skills which helped with memory and recollection. Participants also demonstrated upward trends in language and recall test components, and in cognitive scoring. Overall, the programme enhances participants’ cognitive abilities and awareness, which boosts resilience to developing dementia.
The success of the programme highlights a need for more cognitive programmes in AACs, as programmes that prioritise physical activities currently dominate. Overall, the trainers emphasised how learning and holistic wellbeing are two sides of the same coin; improving cognition leads to improved memory, emotional regulation, and conscious behaviour, which are key in preventative healthcare.
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