How NeuronUP powers cognitive stimulation in people with mental health challenges: Elkarkide Iturrama case study

Jokin Gutiérrez, Educator at the Iturrama Occupational Center of Elkarkide, shares how the professionals at Elkarkide Iturrama have worked for almost ten years with NeuronUP to enhance cognitive stimulation in people with mental health difficulties.

Introduction

In this article we present the results of a study we carried out at Elkarkide on the effectiveness of the NeuronUP platform in the cognitive stimulation of people with mental health difficulties attended at our Iturrama Occupational Center.

In the study we analyzed the tool’s impact across various cognitive areas over a ten-year period. The results show significant improvements in most users, especially in visuospatial skills, attention, language, and executive functions. The study highlights the importance of individualized cognitive stimulation and the effectiveness of NeuronUP as a tool to improve the quality of life of this group.

About Elkarkide and NeuronUP

Elkarkide, a non-profit organization founded in 1991, is dedicated to the socio-labor inclusion of people with mental health difficulties. Through its four occupational centers [Centro Ocupacional Aranzadi, Centro Ocupacional Lizardi, Centro Ocupacional Las Labradas y Centro Ocupacional Iturrama], it offers personal and social development programs, support for socio-labor inclusion, and cognitive and motivational stimulation.

The latter, aimed at people with a lower level of autonomy, as a result of progressive deterioration caused by mental health difficulties, is implemented at the Iturrama Occupational Center using the NeuronUP platform.

NeuronUP is a software application that allows the design of cognitive stimulation tools adapted to each person’s individual needs. Its flexibility, constant updates, and wide range of exercises make it a valuable tool for cognitive intervention.

In this study we evaluate the impact of NeuronUP on the users of the Iturrama Occupational Center who have used the platform for at least five years. The objective is to analyze the effectiveness of the long-term cognitive stimulation program.

Methodology of the study on the efficacy of NeuronUP in the cognitive stimulation of people with mental health difficulties

We conducted a quantitative analysis of the data provided by the NeuronUP platform. The sample included 21 users of the Iturrama Occupational Center, 17 of whom have been using the tool since 2015. We analyzed the evolution of the “Overall Score” between December 2022 and December 2024, as well as improvements in different cognitive areas:

• visuospatial skills,
• attention,
• language,
• executive functions,
• memory,
• gnosias,
• praxias,
• orientation,
• and social cognition.

Profile of the users

The study population is composed of a 48% women and a 52% men.

The predominant age range is 51 to 59 years (52%), followed by the 60 to 65 years group (24%). Next is the 41 to 50 years group (19%) and, lastly, the 31 to 40 years group (5%).

As for educational level, 48% completed primary education and 24% hold an intermediate vocational qualification (FP1). The remaining 30% is split equally between higher vocational qualifications (FP2), university studies and other qualifications.

81% of the diagnoses fall within ICD categories F20–F29 (schizophrenia, schizotypal disorder and delusional disorders). Of these, 62% belong to category F20 (schizophrenia).

It is worth noting that 19% of the sample are people with more than one diagnosis.

In addition, 90% of the population studied have been living with the illness for more than 20 years.

Results of the study on the efficacy of NeuronUP in the cognitive stimulation of people with mental health difficulties

The results show an increase in the “general Score” in 18 of the 21 people analysed, with improvements ranging from 1% to 33%. Eleven people showed an improvement of more than 10%.

As for the areas of intervention, we observed significant improvements in:

• Visuospatial skills: 90% of participants.
• Attention: 86% of participants.
• Language and executive functions: 72% of participants.
• Memory: 66% of participants.
• Gnosias: 57% of participants.
• Praxias: 48% of participants.
• Orientation and social cognition: 5% of participants in each area.

Assessment of the study on the efficacy of NeuronUP in the cognitive stimulation of people with mental health difficulties

Although it is not possible to adjust the results because the assessment surveys are anonymous (they are completed by everyone who attends the centre), analysing the responses provides relevant information about how the activity is perceived.

The high proportion of participants who say they would like to repeat the activity in future (93.55% in 2023 and 96.67% in 2024) suggests a high degree of overall satisfaction.

We observed a preference for activities involving the platform’s generators and games. This leads us to hypothesize that the preference is related to the platform’s self-regulating difficulty levels and the motivational impact of the reinforcement screens (“Congratulations, you have moved up a level”).

The qualitative analysis of the open-ended responses shows that participants perceive the activity as beneficial for:

• Cognitive stimulation: “Everything about it does me good, it activates my mind and makes me react.”
• Motivation and self-improvement: “Every day I want to better myself more.” “I challenge myself.”
• Applicability to everyday life: “All of this is useful for solving problems in real life.”
• Keeping mentally active: “It helps keep me active.” “It activates my mind.” “It is very positive, it makes me exercise my mind.”

These findings suggest that the activity has a positive impact on cognition, motivation and the participants’ perception of its usefulness.

Discussion

With the results obtained in the study, we can confirm the efficacy of the NeuronUP platform in improving various cognitive areas in people with mental health difficulties. Being able to adapt the tool to each person’s needs, its integration into the daily routine and the constant updating of content all contribute to its success.

It is important to note that only three people did not show positive results. This may be due to individual factors such as the severity of the disability, adherence to the programme or the presence of comorbidities. Further research is needed to analyse these cases and optimize the intervention.

Conclusions of the study on the efficacy of NeuronUP in the cognitive stimulation of people with mental health difficulties

With this study we highlight the importance of cognitive stimulation in improving the quality of life of people with mental health difficulties. NeuronUP is consolidated as an effective tool for developing programs that can be individualized and adapted to each person’s needs.

Elkarkide’s commitment to inclusion and the implementation of innovative programs like this contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and equitable future.

Bibliography

• Elkarkide. (n.d.). “Occupational centers and support programs”. Retrieved from www.elkarkide.org
• NeuronUp. (n.d.). “Rehabilitation and cognitive stimulation platform”. Retrieved from www.neuronup.com

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“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Cómo NeuronUP potencia la estimulación cognitiva en personas con dificultades de salud mental: Caso Elkarkide Iturrama