Making Memory Better for Seniors With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Neuropsychological Intervention for a Seniors Mental Health Population With Mild Cognitive Impairment

The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of a cognitive training group in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment, using a new paradigm that will optimize ecological validity by (1) focusing on everyday memory problems, (2) supplementing traditional memory training with the teaching of an empirically-supported problem-solving approach, and (3) employing a clinically representative sample of individuals with MCI (e.g., not excluding those with mild affective symptoms).

Mild Cognitive Impairment, Aging, Memory, Executive Function, Cognitive Intervention, Memory Training, Mental Health

The cognitive training consists of 10 weekly 2-hour sessions. It is run with groups of MCI participants and their study partners (who help with reinforcing the strategies in everyday activities). The program provides information about memory and lifestyle factors in the first two weeks, followed by training and practice over the next eight weeks on empirically-supported cognitive strategies known to be effective at supporting day-to-day remembering in MCI. Participants learn to apply a core set of strategies (spaced retrieval, memory book logging) across a variety of common memory problems (e.g., remembering names, appointments, etc). To enhance the likelihood that these strategies will transfer to other settings beyond training, participants are also taught a memory problem solving approach that will cue them to recognize situations in which they need to: (1) stop and remember something, (2) select and apply an appropriate memory strategy, and (3) monitor that it is working.

Inclusion Criteria: Clinical diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment Exclusion Criteria: Clinical diagnosis of dementia History of neurological conditions known to impair cognition History of alcohol or drug abuse History of chronic psychiatric illness Current symptoms of moderate to severe depression (Geriatric Depression Scale >19) or anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory >15)