Experts believe that modifiable risk factors may be implicated in 30% to 40% of people with dementia. A new study found that a personalized intervention produced modest improvements in dementia risk factors, cognition and overall quality of life.
The trial included a two-year risk-reduction program. The authors gathered data from 2018 until 2022. The study was published Monday in JAMA internal Medicine.
In total, 172 adults between the ages of 70 and 89 were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 75.7 years. The participants all had an elevated risk for dementia. All of the people were from primary care clinics that were part of Kaiser Permanente Washington. The participants were placed into control and intervention groups.
The authors examined results from neuropsychological tests, changes in risk factors and an individual’s quality of life. The researchers assessed outcomes at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.
The intervention involved a health coach and nurse. Some of the program was delivered in person prior to the COVID-19 pandemic; the rest was delivered by phone. Participants received health coaching sessions, which were available every four to six weeks toward the beginning of the program and then every six weeks for the latter half. Coaches discussed modifiable risk factors using visual aids. They worked with participants to set goals for controlled risk factors such as getting a certain number of steps per day. The participants received resources such as fitness trackers and brain games, depending on their goals. Once a goal was achieved, they set another.
Two years after the intervention began, 82 people who participated in the intervention group had a 74% improvement compared with the change in the control group, a better composite risk factor score and improved quality of life. There weren’t any differences in serious adverse events between the groups though the intervention group had greater adverse events from treatment such as musculoskeletal pain.
