Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sleep Medicine
• Mind-Body Therapies

Background:

• Persons with mild cognitive impairment (PwMCI) and their caregivers often suffer from poor sleep and elevated stress levels.
• Tai Chi is a promising intervention for stress reduction and sleep improvement in older adults and individuals with MCI.
• Existing research highlights the need for interventions targeting sleep quality and stress in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a Tai Chi intervention designed to improve sleep among PwMCI and their spousal caregivers.
• To evaluate the acceptability, demand, implementation, and preliminary efficacy of the Tai Chi for sleep program.
• To gather data supporting a larger study on sleep improvement for PwMCI and caregivers.

Main Methods:

• A feasibility study involving 12 PwMCI and 12 spousal caregivers.
• Utilized bed sensors, Oura rings, and daily sleep diaries for 10 days, including a 10-minute Tai Chi video.
• Analyzed data using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests to determine feasibility and preliminary efficacy.

Main Results:

• High participant acceptability for Tai Chi, bed sensors, and Oura rings, with high overall study enjoyment.
• Demonstrated demand with over 55% nightly Tai Chi participation, though caregivers completed it more often than PwMCI.
• High diary completion rates (PwMCI: 85.83%, caregivers: 96.25%) and successful implementation of technology (bed sensors, Oura rings).
• Preliminary efficacy data indicated reduced nightly stress after Tai Chi, particularly significant for caregivers (p < .001).

Conclusions:

• The Tai Chi for sleep intervention demonstrated feasibility for both PwMCI and their caregivers.
• The intervention shows potential for improving sleep quality and reducing stress in this population.
• Further investigation is recommended to confirm the efficacy of this Tai Chi-based approach.