Institute of Neuroscience of the CNR, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56100, Pisa, Italy.
Department NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Aging Clin Exp Res. 2021 May;33(5):1249-1257. doi: 10.1007/s40520-019-01280-w. Epub 2019 Aug 5.
Cognitive impairments associated with aging and dementia are major sources of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPs) and deterioration in quality of life (QoL). Preventive measures to both reduce disease and improve QoL in those affected are increasingly targeting individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at early disease stage. However, NPs and QoL outcomes are too commonly overlooked in intervention trials. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of physical and cognitive training on NPs and QoL in MCI.
Baseline data from an MCI court (N = 93, mean age 74.9 ± 4.7) enrolled in the Train the Brain (TtB) study were collected. Subjects were randomized in two groups: a group participated to a cognitive and physical training program, while the other sticked to usual standard care. Both groups underwent a follow-up re-evaluation after 7 months from baseline. NPs were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and QoL was assessed using Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) scale.
After 7 months of training, training group exhibited a significant reduction of NPs and a significant increase in QOL-AD with respect to no-training group (p = 0.0155, p = 0.0013, respectively). Our preliminary results suggest that a combined training can reduce NPs and improve QoL.
Measuring QoL outcomes is a potentially important factor in ensuring that a person with cognitive deficits can 'live well' with pathology. Future data from non-pharmacological interventions, with a larger sample and a longer follow-up period, could confirm the results and the possible implications for such prevention strategies for early cognitive decline.
与衰老和痴呆相关的认知障碍是神经精神症状（NPs）和生活质量（QoL）恶化的主要原因。预防措施既要减少疾病，又要提高受影响人群的 QoL，越来越多地针对轻度认知障碍（MCI）的早期疾病阶段的个体。然而，在干预试验中，NPs 和 QoL 结果通常被忽视。本研究旨在测试身体和认知训练对 MCI 患者的 NPs 和 QoL 的影响。
从参加 Train the Brain（TtB）研究的 MCI 法庭（N=93，平均年龄 74.9±4.7）中收集基线数据。受试者随机分为两组：一组参加认知和身体训练计划，另一组坚持常规标准护理。两组均在基线后 7 个月进行随访评估。使用神经精神疾病问卷（NPI）评估 NPs，使用阿尔茨海默病生活质量量表（QOL-AD）评估 QoL。
经过 7 个月的训练，与无训练组相比，训练组的 NPs 显著减少，QOL-AD 显著增加（p=0.0155，p=0.0013）。我们的初步结果表明，联合训练可以减少 NPs 并改善 QoL。
测量 QoL 结果是确保有认知缺陷的人能够“生活得好”的一个潜在重要因素。未来来自非药物干预的更多数据，以及更长的随访期，可能会证实这些结果以及这种预防早期认知衰退的策略的可能影响。
