Neuroempowerment protocols for the prevention of cognitive decline and stress management in applied contexts

Introduction: The constant shift in employment quotas in favor of elderly professionals is strictly related to the population's ongoing aging tendency. This shift has created novel challenges for maintaining an adequate professional performance and wellbeing at work. Recent research has demonstrated the value of mindfulness-based neurofeedback interventions for professionals in terms of stress reduction and neurocognitive efficiency. However, little research has been conducted regarding the possible impact of age on the efficacy of such interventions. Objectives: The current project has a threefold aim i) to explore age-dependent effects of a neurofeedback-based neuroempowerment protocol by comparing its outcomes in junior and senior managers, as well as to propose this protocol for ii) the neurocognitive empowerment and stress reduction in healthy samples, iii) the prevention of cognitive decline in senior professionals and elderly. Materials & Methods: Participants in the study included 10 junior managers (JM, M-age=35.3) and 15 senior managers (SM, M-age=46.7) who underwent a rigorous 4-week daily neuroempowerment protocol based on embodied awareness techniques and wearable neurofeedback device application. Electrophysiological (event-related potentials, or ERP) measures of neurocognitive efficiency, and subjective stress levels, mood, and self-awareness were all examined throughout the pre- and post-training multimethod assessment proposed in this study. Results: Data analysis showed that both JM and SM experienced less perceived stress following training, while the SM group also experienced less anger and mental weariness. Both groups displayed improved performance—with SM performing better—on a standardized cognitive flexibility task. They also demonstrated faster response times on a computerized Stroop task. Regarding ERP indicators of neurocognitive effectiveness, we saw a decrease in the N2 component's latency in SM and an increase in its amplitude in JM. Concerning ERP measures of neurocognitive efficiency, it was observed a decrease in the latency and an increase in the amplitude of the N2 component in SM and JM, respectively. Conclusion: The current findings not only support the potential of intensive neuroempowerment protocols as preventive approaches to age and stress management and cognitive decline even in high-level professionals and applied contexts, but they also suggest slightly different effects and training trajectories depending on trainee age.