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P1‐277: Satisfaction with a family‐focused intervention program for persons with mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers
Author(s) -
Lu Yvonne Y.F.,
Ellis Jennifer,
Haase Joan E.,
Bakas Tamilyn,
Yang Ziyi,
Weaver Michael T.,
Austrom Mary Guerriero
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.06.478
Subject(s) - dyad , psychology , intervention (counseling) , cognition , randomized controlled trial , clinical psychology , descriptive statistics , developmental psychology , medicine , psychiatry , statistics , surgery , mathematics
AKTIVA-MCI-program is a new interventional training for persons with MCI. It aims to enhance cognitive functioning by increasing the amount of time spent on cognitively stimulating leisure activities like reading, drawing, making music, and playing chess. The program is based on the AKTIVA-intervention for cognitively healthy elderly people and was modified to take account of the special needs of individuals with MCI. In addition to psycho-educational sessions, participants are taught the principles of selfmotivation. Games and exercises, such as role playing or coaching cards were used to enrich the theoretical modules. This presentation reports on the pre-post intervention effects, as implemented in two German university hospitals. Methods:32 people with MCI (18 female; 71.5 years,MMSE1⁄4 28) enrolled in theAKTIVA-MCI study. Over a period of 20 weeks, 12 group sessions took place in small groups and pre and post tests of the main outcomes were carried out. The interventional effects were measured longitudinally using standardized psychometric tests (i.e. MMSE, ADAS-Cog) and questionnaires (i.e. SDS, MAC-Q). In order to measure how frequently participants were involved in cognitively stimulating activities during the intervention, theywere required to complete daily activity protocols. These protocols included 30-item questionnaires rating the frequency of participation in leisure activities on a six point Likert Scale. Results:A comparison of pre-post data indicates that cognitive status, and subjective memory decline remained stable over a 6-month period. The analyses of the daily activity protocols showed several significant outcomes during 15-weeks of the intervention program. The participants watched considerably less television and read more books, did yoga and took part in social events more frequently. Conclusions: These results may indicate that the AKTIVA-MCI-intervention includes strategies that promote a cognitively active lifestyle for people with MCI.