Multi-Component and Cognitive Skills Training in MildCognitive Impairment: Outcomes from a South American Study

Abstract

Background: Dementia represents a significant health challenge, with evidencesuggesting that it can be potentially delayed or prevented through non-pharmacological interventions. There are different types of non-pharmacologicalinterventions for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The Aging Well throughInteraction and Scientific Education (AgeWISE) Program is a notable cognitiveintervention designed to educate both individuals experiencing normal aging andthose with age-related diseases. It offers strategies for managing age-related cognitivechanges and provides skill training.Goals: This study aims to evaluate the effects of a multi-component psychoeducationintervention (AgeWise) in patients with MCI, focusing on the aging brain, lifestylefactors associated with successful brain aging, and strategies to compensate forage-related cognitive decline.Method: A group of 25 amnesic and amnestic-multidomain MCI patients (mean age:75.26±5.5, 65.38% female, education level: 14.46±2.8, MOCA: 22.96±2.91) wererecruited from a Memory Clinic in Buenos Aires. Patients underwent 10 treatmentsessions based on the AgeWISE program. Pre-treatment (week 0) and post-treatment(week 10) assessments included the Multifactor Memory Questionnaire (MMQ) forvarious memory dimensions and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21)to assess mood. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney model was used to analyze the impactof treatment on each outcome.Result: The pre and post-treatment measures were compared, revealing animprovement in the total DASS-21 (P = 0.05), with a significant reduction indepression (DASS-21-Depression P = 0.02). While changes in the MMQ scale did ot reach significance, there was a trend towards improved satisfaction with memoryperformance (P = 0.083).Conclusion: In regions with limited access to clinical and pharmacological trials,non-pharmacological interventions emerge as a viable option for MCI patients. TheAgeWISE intervention specifically demonstrated improvements in mood among MCIpatients, with significant changes were observed in specific items (DASS-21-Totaland Depression) related to initiative, tolerance for interruptions, and enthusiasm,suggesting positive outcomes for individuals undergoing this intervention. Thesefindings highlight the potential benefits of non-pharmacological interventions forindividuals with MCI.