MedPath

Tailored Mediterranean Lifestyle Education in Participants With Subjective Cognitive Impairment

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Subjective Cognitive Impairment
Interventions
Behavioral: Control
Behavioral: "THINK-MED" resource (baseline)
Behavioral: "THINK-MED" resource (staged)
Registration Number
NCT03569319
Lead Sponsor
Queen's University, Belfast
Brief Summary

It is estimated that 30% of Alzheimer's disease cases globally are associated with changeable risk factors, such as diet and physical activity. In particular, a Mediterranean diet (MD) has been associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline and improved brain function.

The investigators developed educational resources on the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle (THINK-MED) in accordance with the Medical Research Council guidance for developing and evaluating complex interventions, based on a systematic literature review and informed by qualitative work with patients with mild memory problems.The feedback gathered informed refinements and tailoring of the resource and overall MD intervention.

This study aims to evaluate feasibility of the "THINK-MED" Mediterranean lifestyle educational intervention to encourage dietary behaviour change among community-dwelling people with subjective cognitive impairment.

Detailed Description

This pilot RCT aims to evaluate the feasibility of a theory-based, tailored Mediterranean lifestyle education intervention (THINK-MED) to encourage behaviour change among participants who have subjective cognitive impairment.

This study will be a 6 month randomised controlled trial (RCT) with a total of 30 participants who will be randomised to 1 of 3 groups:

1. Group 1 will receive the "THINK-MED" Mediterranean Lifestyle Education for Memory resource on one occasion at baseline (n=10)

2. Group 2 will receive the "THINK-MED" Mediterranean Lifestyle Education for Memory resource at monthly intervals for 5 months, with an initial face-to-face visit from the research dietitian (month 1) and accompanied by telephone feedback (month 2-5) (n=10)

3. Group 3 is a control group. Participants in this group will receive the "THINK-MED" Mediterranean Lifestyle Education for Memory resource after completing the 6 month study (n=10)

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
5
Inclusion Criteria
  • Have subjective cognitive impairment - Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥ 26/30
  • Mediterranean diet score (MDS) ≤ 4 (Estruch et al. 2006)
  • Willing to make changes to their diet
Exclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosis of dementia
  • MoCA score of ≤ 25/30
  • Individuals with a visual or English language impairment
  • Psychiatric problems e.g. depression
  • Significant medical comorbidity
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) ≤ 19 and ≥ 40 kg/m2
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Dietary restrictions/allergies that would substantially limit ability to complete study requirements
  • Inability to provide informed consent
  • History of, or comorbid condition which may alter performance on cognitive tests e.g. stroke, head injury, Parkinson's disease, learning disability

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Group 3: ControlControlParticipants will receive the "THINK-MED" resource after their final 6 month study visit (i.e. delayed intervention) (n=10)
Group 1: "THINK-MED" resource (baseline)"THINK-MED" resource (baseline)The "THINK-MED" resource contains an information booklet, recipe books, menu plan cards, shopping list cards and goal setting cards. Participants will receive this resource on one occasion at baseline (n=10)
Group 2: "THINK-MED" resource (staged)"THINK-MED" resource (staged)This group of participants will receive the "THINK-MED" resource at monthly intervals for 5 months accompanied by telephone feedback from the research dietitian (n=10)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) at 6 monthsBaseline, 6 months

Mediterranean dietary intake will be measured by a validated questionnaire with a increase in score by greater than or equal to 3 points at 6 months indicating adoption (maximum score 14)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Anthropometric measurementsBaseline, 6 months

Weight and height measurements to calculate BMI

Geriatric Depression ScaleBaseline, 6 months

Depressive symptoms will be measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale Questionnaire, with a score greater than 5 indicating depressive symptoms

Functional Assessment (1)Baseline, 6 months

Measured by the instrumental activities of daily living questionnaire (IADL) by Lawton and Brody Measured by the instrumental activities of daily living scale (IADL) by Lawton and Brody (1969) questionnaire

Rand Short Form-36 HEALTH SURVEYBaseline, 6 months

A questionnaire to measure participants views and beliefs on health

Mediterranean Diet self-efficacy questionnaireBaseline, 6 months

A questionnaire to measure participants self-efficacy

Functional Assessment (2)Baseline, 6 months

Measured by the Bristol activities of daily living (Bucks et al. 1996) questionnaire

Change in Physical Activity at 6 monthsBaseline, 6 months

Physical activity will be measured by the Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire (RPAQ)

Muscle StrengthBaseline, 6 months

Measured using a grip-strength dynamometer

Cognitive AssessmentBaseline, 6 months

A comprehensive cognitive assessment will be performed, including: global cognition, motor skills, executive function episodic/visual memory, and information processing and sustained attention using a validated neuropsychological test battery (Cantab Cognitive Battery, Cambridge Cognition Ltd.)

4 day food diaryBaseline, 6 months

A food diary will be completed to assess compliance with a Mediterranean diet

Mediterranean Diet Knowledge questionnaireBaseline, 6 months

A questionnaire to measure participants Mediterranean diet knowledge

Dietary Quality of Life questionnaireBaseline, 6 months

A questionnaire to measure dietary quality of life

Staging Algorithm QuestionnaireBaseline, 6 months

A questionnaire to measure participants readiness to change their diet and lifestyle

Change in Lifestyle questionnaireBaseline, 6 months

A questionnaire to measure change in lifestyle behaviours

Blood SampleBaseline, 6 months

A blood sample will be taken from participants to be stored for analysis of biomarkers of MD adherence and biomarkers of neurodegenerative disease risk.

Barriers to consuming a Mediterranean Diet questionnaireBaseline, 6 months

Dietary behaviour change questionnaire to measure adherence to a Mediterranean diet

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Queen's University

🇬🇧

Belfast, United Kingdom

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath