A-017 Lifestyle activity engagement and cognition: Findings in healthy controls across the lifespan

Objective Engagement in physical and intellectual activity has been found to exert an impact on processing speed and executive functioning. One critical issue that remains unclear is at what point in the lifespan self-reported lifestyle factors impact cognition. Method A community sample of nondepressed adults aged 18–74 (N = 176) was administered measures assessing activity engagement (Cognitive Health Questionnaire), processing speed (SDMT), and executive functioning (PASAT, Oral Trails B). Very physically and intellectually active (over 3 instances/week of activity) participants were compared to those reporting less activity across three age ranges: young adults (YA; age 18–29), middle-aged adults (MA; age 30–55), and older adults (OA; age 56–74). Results MA participants who frequently engaged in moderate or vigorous physical activity showed better SDMT performance than less active participants (p < .05). YA participants frequently engaging in mild physical activity showed a nonsignificant trend toward better PASAT and SDMT performance than those who were less active. YA and MA participants who reported high use of daily cognitive strategies showed stronger Oral Trails B (p < .05) and SDMT (p = .06) performance, respectively. Very intellectually active YA participants showed better PASAT performance than less active participants (p = .06). While OA participant group comparisons were not significant, small sample sizes for some analyses may have impacted results. Conclusions We found that individuals with strong lifestyle activity engagement showed better processing speed and executive functioning than less active participants. These findings are consistent with previous research indicating that more robust activity engagement is associated with better cognition.

Lifestyle changes and outcomes of elderly people with mild cognitive impairment: a 4-year longitudinal study

Background Longitudinal studies have shown that mild cognitive impairment (MCI; a precursor of dementia) reverts to normal cognition (NC). However, we couldn’t find any reports that have examined the lifestyle activity change patterns of elderly people diagnosed as having MCI and their outcomes in a longitudinal study. We determined the lifestyle activity change patterns among elderly people with MCI. Methods The participants in this study were 769 community-dwelling elders who were ≥65 years old with MCI at baseline. Four years later, participants were classified into reverters who recovered from MCI to NC, maintainers who maintained MCI, and converters who had global cognitive impairment (GCI) or Alzheimer disease (AD). We used latent class analysis (LCA) to classify changes in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and cognitive, social, and productive activities of the participants. Subsequently, we performed a multinomial logistic regression analysis with reversion status as dependent variable (the most typical, converters as reference group) and cluster membership as independent variables. Results The reversion rate of 769 participants was 33.3%. The reverters were maintaining multidomain lifestyle activities, converters had discontinued multidomain lifestyle activity or were inactive, and maintainers were maintaining productive activities. According to logistic regression analysis, the activity pattern of continuing to engage in multidomain lifestyle activities and start activity were more likely to recover from MCI to NC (P <.05). Conclusions Elderly participants with MCI who continued their multidomain lifestyle activities were more likely to recover to NC. Even if it does not lead to NC, continuing productive activities is important to maintaining MCI without converting.

What is the best way to keep walking and moving around for individuals with Machado-Joseph disease? A scoping review through the lens of Aboriginal families with Machado-Joseph disease in the Top End of Australia

ObjectivesMachado-Joseph disease (MJD) is the most common spinocerebellar ataxia worldwide. Prevalence is highest in affected remote Aboriginal communities of the Top End of Australia. Aboriginal families with MJD from Groote Eylandt believe ‘staying strong on the inside and outside’ works best to keep them walking and moving around, in accordance with six key domains that form the ‘Staying Strong’ Framework. The aim of this current study was to review the literature to: (1) map the range of interventions/strategies that have been explored to promote walking and moving around (functional mobility) for individuals with MJD and; (2) align these interventions to the ‘Staying Strong’ Framework described by Aboriginal families with MJD.DesignScoping review.Data sourcesSearches were conducted in July 2018 in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Cochrane Databases.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesPeer-reviewed studies that (1) included adolescents/adults with MJD, (2) explored the effects of any intervention on mobility and (3) included a measure of mobility, function and/or ataxia were included in the review.ResultsThirty studies were included. Few studies involved participants with MJD alone (12/30). Most studies explored interventions that aligned with two ‘Staying Strong’ Framework domains, ‘exercising your body’ (n=13) and ‘searching for good medicine’ (n=17). Few studies aligned with the domains having ‘something important to do’ (n=2) or ‘keeping yourself happy’ (n=2). No studies aligned with the domains ‘going country’ or ‘families helping each other’.ConclusionsEvidence for interventions to promote mobility that align with the ‘Staying Strong’ Framework were focused on staying strong on the outside (physically) with little reflection on staying strong on the inside (emotionally, mentally and spiritually). Findings suggest future research is required to investigate the benefits of lifestyle activity programmes that address both physical and psychosocial well-being for families with MJD.

Promoting Social Skills and a Balanced Life for Parents

Session 8 of the RAINBOW treatment protocol focuses on promoting the child’s social skills as well as on enhancing parental self-care (ingredient B: Be a good friend and Balanced life for parents of RAINBOW), and it is conducted with the parent/caregiver(s). Parent(s) are provided with psychoeducation regarding the importance of friendships, and engaged in problem-solving to identify key opportunities to promote their child’s social skills as well as ways to minimize difficulties during stressful social situations. The session also focuses on parental well-being and how they can maximize their opportunities for parental self-care, via discussion and completion of a “balanced lifestyle” activity.