Author: Anne L Shandera-Ochsner1, Melanie J Chandler2, Dona E Locke3, Colleen T Ball4, Julia E Crook4, Vaishali S Phatak5, Glenn E Smith6
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic Health System, 700 West Ave S, La Crosse, WI54601, USA.
<sup>2</sup> Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL32224, USA.
<sup>3</sup> Division of Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 13400 East Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ85259, USA.
<sup>4</sup> Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, 13400 East Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ85259, USA.
<sup>5</sup> Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Emile, Omaha, NE68198, USA.
<sup>6</sup> Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, PO Box 100165, Gainesville, FL32610, USA.
Conference/Journal: J Int Neuropsychol Soc
Date published: 2021 Jul 26
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1017/S1355617721000485. , Word Count: 257
Objectives:
Lifestyle modifications for those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may promote functional stability, lesson disease severity, and improve well-being outcomes such as quality of life. The current analysis of our larger comparative effectiveness study evaluated which specific combinations of lifestyle modifications offered as part of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Action to Benefit Independence in Thinking (HABIT) program contributed to the least functional decline in people with MCI (pwMCI) over 18 months.
Methods:
We undertook to compare evidence-based interventions with one another rather than to a no-treatment control group. The interventions were five behavioral treatments: computerized cognitive training (CCT), yoga, Memory Support System (MSS) training, peer support group (SG), and wellness education (WE), each delivered to both pwMCI and care partners, in a group-based program. To compare interventions, we randomly withheld one of the five HABIT® interventions in each of the group sessions. We conducted 24 group sessions with between 8 and 20 pwMCI-partner dyads in a session.
Results:
Withholding yoga led to the greatest declines in functional ability as measured by the Functional Activities Questionnaire and Clinical Dementia Rating. In addition, memory compensation (calendar) training and cognitive exercise appeared to have associations (moderate effect sizes) with better functional outcomes. Withholding SG or WE appeared to have little effect on functioning at 18 months.
Conclusions:
Overall, these results add to the growing literature that physical exercise can play a significant and lasting role in modifying outcomes in a host of medical conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases.
Keywords: Activities of daily living; Cognitive dysfunction; Lifestyle; Neurodegenerative diseases; Quality of life; Yoga.
PMID: 34308814 DOI: 10.1017/S1355617721000485