Compensation Training to Improve Everyday Functioning of Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Subjective Cognitive Complaints: The Digital Memory Notebook
Sponsor:
University of California, Davis
Brief Summary:
Compensatory aids (e.g., alarms, calendars) play an important supporting role when completing
everyday tasks (e.g., appointments, medication management), and there is a growing body of
scientific work suggesting that compensatory training improves daily functioning. However,
traditional paper-based calendars and to-do-lists have limitations related to accumulation of
information, difficulty retrieving information, and remembering to complete activities. Such
limitations may be overcome using a digital format through organized digital files, search
functions, and alarms. This pilot project proposes to train older adults at risk for
cognitive decline to use the Digital Memory Notebook (DMN), a tablet-based application (app),
to support everyday functioning. The primary goal is to obtain preliminary evidence that a
6-week, individual and group-based DMN training intervention results in demonstrable changes
in target behaviors (e.g., goal-directed DMN use to support everyday activities) among older
adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subjective cognitive complaints (SCC).
Participants will complete a curriculum involving 2-hour weekly sessions for 6-weeks. Each
week will cover a specific function of the DMN and will include standardized goal-setting and
weekly homework targets. Following the 6-week intervention, participants will continue to use
the DMN app for 4-weeks to evaluate stability. Participants will complete a questionnaire
packet 1 week prior to the 6-week intervention, 1 week after the 6-week intervention, and 5
weeks following the 6-week intervention. MCI and SCC participants will complete separate
6-week individual or group interventions spaced two months apart at UCD.
everyday tasks (e.g., appointments, medication management), and there is a growing body of
scientific work suggesting that compensatory training improves daily functioning. However,
traditional paper-based calendars and to-do-lists have limitations related to accumulation of
information, difficulty retrieving information, and remembering to complete activities. Such
limitations may be overcome using a digital format through organized digital files, search
functions, and alarms. This pilot project proposes to train older adults at risk for
cognitive decline to use the Digital Memory Notebook (DMN), a tablet-based application (app),
to support everyday functioning. The primary goal is to obtain preliminary evidence that a
6-week, individual and group-based DMN training intervention results in demonstrable changes
in target behaviors (e.g., goal-directed DMN use to support everyday activities) among older
adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subjective cognitive complaints (SCC).
Participants will complete a curriculum involving 2-hour weekly sessions for 6-weeks. Each
week will cover a specific function of the DMN and will include standardized goal-setting and
weekly homework targets. Following the 6-week intervention, participants will continue to use
the DMN app for 4-weeks to evaluate stability. Participants will complete a questionnaire
packet 1 week prior to the 6-week intervention, 1 week after the 6-week intervention, and 5
weeks following the 6-week intervention. MCI and SCC participants will complete separate
6-week individual or group interventions spaced two months apart at UCD.
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
– Diagnosis of subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
– Adults at least 60 years of age (no upper age limit)
– Fluent in English
– Available informant (study partner) to complete surveys
Exclusion Criteria:
– Unable to consent
– Pregnant women
– Prisoners
Locations
- Alzheimer’s Disease Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, United States, 95817
