Work

Assessment of Health-promoting Behaviors Before and After an Alzheimer’s Prevention Program

Year: 2017

Type: conference-abstract

Abstract: With the rapidly aging population and associated increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), interventions aimed at preventing AD are crucial. We investigated whether older adults would benefit from empirically supported psychoeducation targeting strategies to prevent or delay AD. Twenty-seven older adults (Mean age (SD) = 81.93(5.68)), completed a six-month group psychoeducation program created by the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center. Twelve sessions occurred twice monthly in a local retirement community, led by an interprofessional team with expertise in AD prevention. Sessions focused on modifiable risk factors for AD (i.e., physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress). We used paired t-tests to measure changes in Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile subscale scores (nutrition, physical activity, spiritual growth, and stress management) from pre-intervention to post-intervention. There was statistically significant improvement in stress management (p = .004). There were no differences on nutrition or physical activity subscales. There was a trend toward significance for spiritual growth (p=.059), though our study was underpowered due to small sample size. Average physical activity scores were lowest across the subscales. Our group-based psychoeducation program targeting promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors resulted in improved self-reported stress management. This is an important outcome for an older adult population seeking to be proactive about their brain health. Future research will explore how this stress reduction may occur (e.g., reduced helplessness, internal locus of control). The average lower scores on physical activity compared with other subscale scores suggest that strategies aimed at increasing physical activity show the greatest room for improvement.

Source: Innovation in Aging

DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.1564