Cognitive Stimulation Therapy

CST is a seven week structured group programme for people with mild and moderate dementia. It is run twice weekly for an hour and can be run in the community or in aged residential care settings. The Therapy is based on 18 person-centred care key principles.

It is now also available as a virtual treatment, VBIA.

Since Cognitive Stimulation Therapy was developed, 20 years ago, a lot of research has been carried out.

These are the key findings:

CST groups improve both cognitive function and quality of life for people with dementia. It is just as effective for cognitive function as currently available anti-dementia drugs.

A positive experience in a group supports improvements in mood, confidence and concentration, due to the supportive and non-threatening environment.

Further research shows that CST made significant impact on language skills including naming, word-finding and comprehension.

The New Zealand Ministry of Health published a National Dementia Framework (Ministry of Health, 2013) and CST is one of two specific treatments recommended as good practice for dementia.

It is a treatment recommended by the UK Department of Health NICE guidelines on dementia, 2006 and the World Alzheimer Report (Alzheimer's Disease International, 2011).

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy

CST is a seven week structured group programme for people with mild and moderate dementia. It is run twice weekly for an hour and can be run in the community or in aged residential care settings. The Therapy is based on 18 person-centred care key principles.

It is now also available as a virtual treatment, VBIA.

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Since Cognitive Stimulation Therapy was developed, 20 years ago, a lot of research has been carried out.

These are the key findings:

​

CST groups improve both cognitive function and quality of life for people with dementia. It is just as effective for cognitive function as currently available anti-dementia drugs.