Minds Navigating the Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MIND-MCI): Feasibility and Acceptability of a Primary Care Telehealth Intervention
Abstract
Rationale: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a major public health concern. MCI affects more than a quarter of older adults and can progress to dementia, especially if risk factors are unmanaged or untreated. Factors that increase the risk of developing dementia include certain cardiovascular health conditions (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity), lifestyle factors (physical inactivity and poor sleep and diet), and mental health factors (depression and low social contact). Not only do mental health factors increase the risk of developing dementia, but they are also often associated with MCI. Individuals with MCI can feel stressed about their impairments and the impact they have on their daily functioning. This stress can cause depression, anxiety, and loneliness, leading to a decrease in quality of life (QoL). Interventions that focus on stress management, effective coping, memory support strategies, and health behavior change are needed to improve QoL and reduce the risk or delay onset of dementia in older adults with MCI. Such interventions should be offered in primary care and via telehealth to ensure all Veterans with MCI have access. The MInds Navigating the Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MIND-MCI) is a nine-session telehealth intervention for primary care. MIND-MCI was developed for Veterans with a diagnosis of MCI and cardiovascular risk factors who are experiencing stress related to their MCI diagnosis and symptoms. MIND-MCI targets memory and thinking abilities, stress and coping, and lifestyle risk factors through peer support, education, and skills training. MIND-MCI teaches Veterans to use relaxation and effective coping strategies to manage stress, memory strategies to improve everyday functioning, and goal setting and problem-solving skills to make positive behavior changes. Objective: This study has two objectives. The first objective is to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of MIND-MCI to improve QoL among Veterans with MCI. Veteran participants will be randomly assigned to either to the MIND-MCI intervention or a waitlist control group. Veterans assigned to the waitlist control group will be offered the MIND-MCI intervention after completing study assessments. Results of the study will be used to modify the study protocol or MIND-MCI intervention, if needed. The second objective of the study is to gather feedback on MIND-MCI from Primary Care–Mental Health Integration providers in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care clinics. The purpose of getting their feedback is to ensure that the MIND-MCI treatment and provider training materials are of high quality and can be easily implemented in primary care settings. Innovation and Impact: The proposed study is an important step in developing a large-scale trial in VA primary care clinics. If this study finds that MIND-MCI is feasible, acceptable, and effective, there is potential to implement the telehealth intervention in primary care clinics across multiple VAs. By offering MIND-MCI via telehealth and in primary care, the intervention can reach a large population of Veterans. Not only does MIND-MCI have the potential to improve QoL and reduce risk or delay dementia in older Veterans, but it could also promote positive change in the quality and practices of behavioral health care for Veterans with MCI in primary care.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2022
- Source ID
- W81XWH2210765
Entities
People
- Mary Jacobs
Organizations
- Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center
- United States Army