The Effectiveness of Interventions Targeting Self-Perception of Aging in Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline

The Effectiveness of Interventions Targeting Self-Perception of Aging in Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) represents the initial clinical manifestation in the disease spectrum of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). It represents an essential stage for early prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment, making the SCD population an optimal target for prior intervention. This study aims to assess the feasibility and efficacy of an 8-week intervention targeting self-perception of aging in community-dwelling older adults with SCD.

Dementia, especially Alzheimer's Disease (AD), is a major healthcare issue in aging populations. It not only threatens the physical and mental health of older adults but also imposes significant economic and caregiving burdens on families and society. As a preclinical stage of AD, subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is regarded as the optimal phase for early intervention in cognitive impairment. When confronted with the threats of physical, psychological, and social aging, older adults with SCD often hold negative perceptions and emotional responses toward their own aging. They tend to attribute physical decline and memory loss to normal aging processes, overlooking controllable factors, which poses potential risks to their future cognitive outcomes, such as accelerated cognitive decline, elevated dementia risk, and increased accumulation of AD biomarkers. This study is based on the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC) and identifies the mechanisms through which self-perception of aging influences cognitive function in older adults with SCD. A comprehensive 8-week intervention program was developed to target these mechanisms. The 8-week intervention program aims to provide practical evidence for delaying cognitive decline in older adults with SCD by enhancing their positive perceptions of aging.

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged ≥60 years;
• residing in the community for 6 months at least;
• experiencing a consistent decline in self-reported cognitive abilities;
• having standard cognitive test performance in the normal range;
• willing to participate in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• having diagnosis of any neurological diseases including Parkinson's disease, brain tumor, cerebral infarction, encephalitis, epilepsy, etc.;
• having diagnosis of mental illness such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia;
• with history of substance abuse or addiction;
• with severe visual or hearing impairment.