Interventions aimed at disseminating information about cognitive aging and lifestyle factors that contribute to successful cognitive aging, in addition to providing broad cognitive skills training, may improve the psychological wellness and day-to-day functioning of the aging Veteran population. This 12-week course aims to teach older Veterans (age 50+) about brain aging, lifestyle factors that contribute to successful aging, and techniques that can boost cognition in daily life.
The proportion of Veterans over age 65 has risen from 11% to 26% from 1980 to 1990, and is estimated to rise to over 50% by 2030. Due to the growing number of older Veterans, health issues specific to the aging Veteran population is a primary concern for the Veterans Health Administration. Fear of developing dementia is common among older adults and minor memory lapses that were previously of little concern may be misinterpreted as signaling the beginning stages of dementia. Although normal cognitive aging is not the same as pathological aging, the impact of normal age-related changes warrants intervention since it can cause emotional distress and functional difficulties impacting occupational, recreational, and social pursuits and subjective cognitive impairment, defined as a noticed cognitive change without objective evidence of decline on neuropsychological testing may be the earliest precursor for dementia. While cognitive changes can be expected as we age, there is a growing body of literature demonstrating that modifiable lifestyle factors can influence functional ability and quality of life as one ages. In addition, cognitive training may result in improvements in cognition and functioning in older adults. Unfortunately, many older adults lack knowledge about cognitive aging and the factors that contribute to successful cognitive aging, which limits their ability to make changes that can improve the odds of successful cognitive aging. The need to disseminate information related to brain health has recently been recognized by key agencies involved in promoting the welfare of older adults, including the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Mental Health, and Aging as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alzheimer's Association. The current study builds upon previous work on cognitive intervention in older adults by investigating a multi-component intervention which includes psychoeducation about cognitive aging, presentation of lifestyle factors that contribute to successful cognitive aging, and broad cognitive skills training. Using a randomized controlled trial design, 72 Veterans will be assigned to either the intervention group (36) or a no treatment control group (36). Veterans will undergo baseline assessment, which will be used for comparison immediately following the intervention and at 3 and 6 month followup. Outcomes include knowledge of cognitive aging, measures of psychological wellness, and indicators of cognitive and functional ability.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
This is a 12-week course that will provide participants with an understanding of what normal and pathological aging processes look like. It will also provide participants with methods to maintain healthy lifestyles as they continue to grow older.
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA
Bedford, Massachusetts, United States
Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire-Revised
Measures laypersons' knowledge of memory changes in adulthood for research or educational purposes using true/false/"don't know" questions, with half of the questions pertaining to normal memory aging and the other half covering pathological memory deficits due to non-normative factors, such as dementia. Test-retest reliability and convergent and discriminant validity were established at adequate levels. Minimum value is 0, maximum value is 28, higher scores indicate better knowledge of memory aging.
Time frame: Within 1 week of start of program
Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ)
The MMQ is a measure constructed to reflect aspects of memory that are potentially amenable to clinical intervention. The scale consists of three subscales - memory contentment, memory ability, and memory strategy use. Higher scores indicate, respectively, greater contentment, ability, and strategy use. Minimum 0, maximum 80
Time frame: Within 1 week of start of program
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