Improved Mood Boosts Memory Training Gains in Older Adults With Subjective Memory Complaints: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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 memory training combined with 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, aged ≥ 60 years.Methods: Participants (n = 124) were randomly assigned to memory training (MT), group counseling (GC), or GC+MT intervention. The GT+MT group received 4-hour 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. The GC+MT group and GC group had resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging at mid- and post-intervention.Results: After group counseling, the GC+MT and GC groups showed reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, compared to the MT group. Memory training enhanced memory performance in both MT and GC+MT groups, but the GC+MT group demonstrated larger memory improvement (Cohen’s d = 0.96) than the MT group (Cohen’s d = 0.62). Amygdala-hippocampus connectivity was associated with improved mood and memory gains.Conclusion and Implications: Group counseling reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, and memory training enhanced memory performance. Specifically, improved mood induced larger memory training effects. The results suggest that it may need to include treatment for depression and anxiety in memory intervention for older adults with SMC.Trial Registration: ChiCTR-IOR-15006165 in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.