Reading Holy Quran to Improve Episodic Memory in Elderly

Aging is a normal biological process accompanied with physical and cognitive declines as a natural consequence. One of the first affected cognitive functions by aging is the episodic memory. Episodic memory declines with age. As a result, a decline in memory function can affect an elderly person's quality of life. The brain plasticity is required for memory formation. According to the neuroplasticity theory, a cognitive training may benefit the brain by stimulating the formation of new neural pathways and maintaining existing ones. As a result, researchers want to see how reading the Holy Quran affects elderly episodic memory. Aims: This study aimed to discover the effect of reading the Holy Quran on episodic memory within a controlled program to promote the wellness of the elderly. Methodology: A quasi-experimental design with a pre-test-post-test control group was used in this study. The subjects were elderly (> 60 years old) at Triyola Clinic, Surakarta, Central Java. The control group (CG) did not receive treatment, whilst the intervention group (HQ) read the Quran in 30 minutes daily. The episodic memory assessed using an immediate and delayed word list recall test. The Paired T-test and Independent Sample T-test were used to analyse the data. Results: There were 22 elderly participants in total, 9 males and 13 females, all of them had a normal Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score greater than 24. Both groups got increased scores for the word-list recall test. No significant improvement in CG. However, there was an improvement in the HQ group, represented by a significantly higher score after the treatment. Scientific Novelty: Elderly people's episodic memory enhanced with the Holy Quranic reading habit. Conclusion: The two-week reading routine of the Holy Quran improved the episodic memory in the elderly.