Race Based Stress and Empowerment Focused Compensatory Cognitive Training for Mild Cognitive Impairment
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Summary
This a two phase project that aims to pilot a new adaptation (Phase 1) of Motivationally Enhanced Compensatory Cognitive Training for Mild Cognitive Impairment (ME-CCT; an originally VA-based cognitive rehabilitation manualized intervention for older adults with MCI, with a focus on the impact of stress on cognitive functioning; that integrates components from the Race Based Stress and Empowerment (RBSE) group for an increased focus on race-based stress and discrimination for racial minority older adults (i.e., RBSEF-CCT-MCI). In a pilot open trial, 75-150 participants will receive group-based intervention for 8 weeks, with 8-10 participants per group. Following the pilot study, the investigators will complete a randomized controlled trial (RCT) (Phase 2) to compare the efficacy of the RBSEF-CCT-MCI with the ME-CCT. In the RCT, 75-150 participants will be randomized into either 1) The active control group, who will complete the original, ME-CCT training program, or 2) The experimental group, who will complete the newly developed RBSE-CCT-MCI. Both research groups will complete the interventions for 8 weeks, with 8-10 participants per group. Hypothesis: Participation in this newly developed/updated intervention (i.e., RBSEF-CCT-MCI) will result in improvements in both (a) subjective and (b) objective cognitive functioning, and (c) self-reported mental health symptoms.
Description
African American (AA) individuals are at higher risk for non-normative cognitive decline, particularly due to increased rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factors. These types of risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hyperlipidemia, etc.) are independently associated with brain imaging changes, even before potential clinical manifestation of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease. When compared to the general aging population, AA adults experience disproportionately higher rates of hypertension as well as both an earlier age of onset and higher concomi…