Cognitive Stimulation and Its Effects on Well-Being, Executive Functions, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Adults from a Mexican Geriatric Center: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background/Objectives: The progressive increase in the aging population highlights the need for interventions aimed at preserving cognitive health and overall well-being in older adults. This study aimed to assess the impact of a structured cognitive training program on psychological well-being, executive function performance, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor levels (BDNF) in older adults from a Mexican geriatric center. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a nonequivalent control group was conducted. Thirty-two older adults were assigned either to a cognitive stimulation intervention group or a control group. The intervention consisted of 120 individually structured sessions, each lasting approximately 60 min, delivered five times per week over 24 weeks. Independent neuropsychologists, blinded to group allocation, assessed executive function (BANFE-3), depressive symptoms (Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale), autonomy in daily living (Barthel Index), and quality of life (WHOQOL-OLD) before and after the intervention. Serum BDNF levels were also measured. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in executive function, depressive symptoms, independence in daily activities, and quality of life, while the control group showed no changes. Additionally, the intervention group showed an increase in BDNF expression post-intervention. Conclusions: The cognitive stimulation program effectively improved cognitive performance, emotional well-being, autonomy, and quality of life in older adults. These findings highlight the importance of integrating structured cognitive stimulation into geriatric care. For nursing practice, this underscores the key role nurses can play in delivering cognitive interventions to promote cognitive health, independence, and emotional stability among institutionalized and non-institutionalized older adults.