Compensatory and Lifestyle-Based Brain Health Program for Subjective Cognitive Decline: Self-Implementation versus...

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics
• Neurology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a growing concern, yet clinical programs are underdeveloped.
• Multidomain brain health interventions show promise but require operationalization for clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a clinical brain health program for subjective cognitive decline (SCD).
• To evaluate a 10-week intervention combining compensatory strategies and lifestyle training.

Main Methods:

• Pilot randomized controlled trial involving patients with SCD.
• Intervention group received a 10-week program with coaching; control group self-implemented.
• Program included executive/memory support systems and healthy lifestyle training.

Main Results:

• No significant group differences, but participants in both groups improved compensatory strategy use, anxiety, and daily functioning.
• Improvements in cognitive strategies, anxiety, and daily functioning were sustained at 6-month follow-up.
• Physical activity increased during the intervention but was not sustained.

Conclusions:

• A cognitive compensatory and lifestyle-based brain health program is preliminarily feasible for SCD.
• Further research is needed to refine scalable implementation strategies like coaching and self-implementation.