Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2016

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To systematically identify, appraise, and summarize research on the effects of behavioral interventions to prevent cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults using a holistic wellness framework. DESIGN: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials that tested the effectiveness of behavioral interventions within each of the six dimensions of wellness: occupational, social, intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual. Databases searched included PubMed MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ALOIS, and The Grey Literature Report through July 1, 2014. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 60 and older (N = 6,254). MEASUREMENTS: Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials Checklist. RESULTS: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions in the physical dimension of wellness were most common (11 studies); interventions in the spiritual dimension were least common (0 studies). Fifty-nine different measures were used to measure multiple cognitive domains, with memory being the most commonly measured (17 studies) and language being the least commonly measured (5 studies). Fifty percent of the interventions examined in the 18 studies demonstrated statistically significant outcomes on at least one cognitive measure. Interventions in the intellectual dimension that examined cognitively stimulating activities using pen and paper or a computer represented the greatest percentage of statistically significant outcomes. CONCLUSION: Intellectual and physical interventions were most studied, with varied results. Future research is needed using more-consistent methods to measure cognition. Researchers should include the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery among measurement tools to facilitate effective data harmonization, pooling, and comparison.

Comments

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article:
Strout KA, David DJ, Dyer EJ, Gray RC, Robnett RH, Howard EP. Behavioral interventions in six dimensions of wellness that protect the cognitive health of community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2016; 64(5):944-958.
which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.14129/full. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.

Note: Author Strout was a faculty member of the UNE Nursing Department at the outset of this research.

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