Cognitive rehabilitation is a personalized therapy that helps people with Alzheimer’s disease develop strategies and use tools to manage specific challenges. Rather than restoring lost memory or stopping disease progression, cognitive rehabilitation helps you make the most of your current abilities by focusing on practical goals that matter to you, such as:
- Managing medications
- Preparing meals
- Remembering appointments
- Staying socially connected
Unlike brain-training games or memory exercises, cognitive rehabilitation focuses on solving real-life challenges.
The goal of cognitive rehabilitation is “to limit the disability associated with a cognitive deficit and increase daily, common, and practical functions,” says Paul Mattis, PhD, chief of neuropsychology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York.
In practice, that often means creating routines and using simple tools to make everyday tasks easier. For example, instead of relying on memory, you might write down your grocery list and learn to organize it by the order you’ll walk through the store. If the produce section is first, fruits and vegetables go at the top of the list. The list then becomes both a memory aid and an organizational tool, helping you shop with greater confidence and fewer mistakes, says Dr. Mattis.
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