A 5-year community program in Singapore to prevent cognitive decline

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Limited long-term, real-world studies exist on cognitive stimulating activities (CSAs).
• Investigated a novel, pooled CSA intervention to prevent cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults without dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the long-term impact of novel CSAs on cognitive function in older adults.
• To determine if engagement in CSAs can prevent or delay cognitive decline.

Main Methods:

• A 5-year longitudinal follow-up study nested within a community-based cohort (N=991).
• A subset (n=264) participated in four randomized controlled trials of CSAs: mindfulness, horticulture, art therapy, and choral singing.
• Cognition was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); 727 individuals served as controls.

Main Results:

• The CSA group showed small improvements in global cognition (MMSE total score, d=0.108) and immediate recall (d=0.199) compared to controls.
• Subgroup analyses indicated medium effect sizes (d=0.420) for cognitive domain improvements in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and those participating in two CSAs.

Conclusions:

• A pooled CSA intervention demonstrated a positive effect on cognitive function.
• Individuals with MCI and those engaging in multiple CSAs (two or more) derived greater cognitive benefits.
• Sustained cognitive improvements may play a role in delaying or preventing dementia.