Highlights
- •What is the primary question addressed by this study?We investigated whether memory training combined with group counseling would induce greater memory gains than memory training or group counseling alone in older adults with subjective memory complaints.
- •What is the main finding of this study?Group counseling decreased symptoms of anxiety, memory training increased associative learning, and the combination of two intervention induced larger memory gain than memory training alone.
- •What is the meaning of the finding?The results suggest that it may need to include treatment for anxiety in memory intervention for older adults with subjective memory complaints.
ABSTRACT
Objective
Older adults with subjective memory complaints (SMC) have a higher risk of dementia
and commonly demonstrate symptoms of depression and anxiety. The study aimed to examine
the effect of a memory training program for individuals with SMC, and whether additional
group counseling aimed at alleviating depression and anxiety would boost memory training
gains.
Design
A three-armed, double-blind, randomized controlled trial.
Setting and Participants
Community-dwelling older adults with SMC, age ≥60.
Methods
Participants (n = 124) were randomly assigned to memory training (MT), group counseling
(GC), or GC + MT intervention. The GT + MT group received 3 sessions of group counseling
followed by a 4-week memory training, while the MT group attended reading and memory
training, and the GC group received group counseling and health lectures. Cognitive
function and symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed at baseline, mid-, and
post-intervention.
Results
After group counseling, the GC + MT and GC groups showed reduced symptoms of anxiety
compared to the MT group. Memory training enhanced associative learning in both MT
and GC + MT groups compare with the GC group, but the GC + MT group demonstrated a
larger memory improvement (Cohen's d = 0.57) than the MT group (Cohen's d = 0.44).
Conclusion and Implications
Group counseling decreased symptoms of anxiety, memory training increased associative
learning, and the combination of two intervention induced larger memory gain than
memory training alone. The results suggest that it may need to integrate treatment
for anxiety into memory training for older adults with SMC to achieve better intervention
effect.
Trial Registration
ChiCTR-IOR-15006165 in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.
Key Words
Abbreviations:
SMC (subjective memory complaints), MT (memory training), GC (group counseling), ALT (Associative Learning Test), ATA (attitudes towards aging)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 19, 2021
Accepted:
May 10,
2021
Received in revised form:
May 10,
2021
Received:
February 11,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
