Cognitive and Brain Activity Changes After Mnemonic Strategy Training in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Tria

Author(s):Show less -

Simon, Sharon S. ^[1] ; Hampstead, Benjamin M. ^{[2, 3]} ; Nucci, Mariana P. ^[4] ; Duran, Fabio L. S. ^[5] ; Fonseca, Luciana M. ^[1] ; Martino, Maria da Graca M. ^[4] ; Avila, Renata ^[1] ; Porto, Fabio H. G. ^[1] ; Brucki, Sonia M. D. ^[6] ; Martins, Camila B. ^[7] ; Tascone, Lyssandra S. ^{[1, 5]} ; Amaro Jr, Edson ; Busatto, Geraldo F. ^[5] ; Bottino, Cassio M. C. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept & Inst Psychiat, Old Age Res Grp PROTER, Fac Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Michigan, Dept Psychiat, Div Neuropsychol, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 - USA

^[3] VA Ann Arbor Healthcare Syst, Ann Arbor, MI - USA

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Neuroimagem Func Lab Med Invest Magnet Resonance, Hosp Clin HCFMUSP, Fac Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept & Inst Psychiat, Fac Med, Lab Psychiat Neuroimaging LIM 21, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Neurol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[7] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Paulista Sch Med, Dept Prevent Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE; v. 10, NOV 13 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Background: Mnemonic strategy training (MST) has been shown to improve cognitive performance in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI), however, several questions remain unresolved. The goal of the present study was to replicate earlier pilot study findings using a randomized controlled design and to evaluate transfer effects and changes in brain activation. Methods: Thirty patients with a-MCI were randomized into MST or education program. At baseline, participants completed clinical and neuropsychological assessments as well as structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Interventions were administered individually and comprised four sessions, over 2 weeks. MST taught patients to use a three-step process to learn and recall face-name associations. Post-treatment assessment included fMRI, a separate face-name association task, neuropsychological tests, and measures of metamemory. Behavioral (i.e., non-fMRI) measures were repeated after one and 3-months. Results: Participants in the MST condition showed greater improvement on measures of face-name memory, and increased associative strategy use; effects that were accompanied by increased fMRI activation in the left anterior temporal lobe. While all participants reported greater contentment with their everyday memory following intervention, only the MST group reported significant improvements in their memory abilities. There was no clear indication of far-transfer effects to other neuropsychological tests. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that patients with a-MCI not only show stimulus specific benefits of MST, but that they appear capable of transferring training to at least some other cognitive tasks. MST also facilitated the use of brain regions that are involved in face processing, episodic and semantic memory, and social cognition, which are consonant with the cognitive processes engaged by training. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/50329-6 - Translational neuroscience of Alzheimer's disease: preclinical and clinical studies of b-amyloid peptide and other biomarkers
• Grantee: Geraldo Busatto Filho
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/50010-0 - Prevention and Treatment of Depression in Older People: A Population-Based Study
• Grantee: Geraldo Busatto Filho
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/51699-1 - Episodic memory training for face and name association in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: cognitive measures and functional resonance magnetic imaging outcomes
• Grantee: Cássio Machado de Campos Bottino
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants