Cognitive training in the rural elderly: A randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy and accessibility of a new approach.

Background: Cognitive training is an important determinant of successful aging but rural areas of Canada are uniquely deprived from accessing such speciality services. A need exists to examine the application of cognitive training through a rural lens. Objectives: 1. To develop a novel collaborative approach to improving access to cognitive training in rural settings. 2. To evaluate the efficacy of a multicomponent cognitive training program for improving cognition in normal elderly persons ...Conclusion: Results support the efficacy of multicomponent cognitive training in reliably improving targeted and functional abilities. Physicians are critical players to the delivery of regimented cognitive training for older adults both in terms of recruitment and compliance. --Leaf ii.