French Memory Support System: A Proof‐of‐Concept Study

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundMild cognitive impairment (MCI) confers a higher risk of developing dementia and may interfere with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). The Memory Support System (MSS) is a curriculum and calendar/note‐taking system that has proven effective to sustain independence in IADLs in individuals with MCI and protect mood among support partners. Until recently, the MSS has only been utilized among English‐ and Spanish‐speaking samples.MethodThis study investigated the use of a translated and culturally adapted MSS in four French‐speaking participants with MCI (75% female, age Mean = 69.3 [SD = 5.6], education M = 15 [SD = 2.6]) and their support partners. A within‐subject multiple baseline design (baseline, treatment end and 8‐week follow‐up) in a 10‐session, 2 to 3‐week MSS training schedule was utilized. Outcome measures included treatment adherence as well as self‐ and informant‐report questionnaires of IADLs, cognitively‐relevant everyday abilities, self‐efficacy, anxiety, depression, caregiver burden, and quality of life.ResultBy treatment end and follow‐up, participants with MCI showed improvement in adherence to the MSS calendar (Cohen’s d = ‐3.32 & ‐2.31); IADLs (d = 0.83 & 0.68); everyday abilities requiring memory (d = 0.35 & 0.43) and planning (d = 0.47 & 0.40); self‐efficacy (d = ‐1.43 & ‐1.62); symptoms of depression (d = 0.26 & 0.71) and anxiety (d = 0.09 & 0.2); and quality of life (d = ‐0.71 & ‐0.9). Support partners showed improvement in their own quality of life (d = ‐0.34 & ‐0.85) and depressive symptoms (d = 0.19 & 1.33), while their caregiver burden and anxiety symptoms generally remained unchanged.ConclusionFindings suggest that with appropriate training, French‐speaking participants with MCI can and will use the MSS. This may lead to improvement in their IADLs, some cognitively‐relevant everyday abilities, anxiety symptoms, and self‐efficacy. MSS training may also improve depressive symptoms and quality of life in both participants with MCI and their support partners. Overall, although results are generally consistent with previous studies using the MSS, further research using a larger sample of French speakers with MCI is needed to confirm current findings.