The Brain Health Champion Study

This is a 6-month, randomized, controlled investigation measuring the effect of increased
clinical contact and personalization on adherence to consensus-based, brain health
recommendations compared to standard physician counseling. 40 patients were enrolled from a
hospital-based memory disorders clinic with early dementia, MCI, or subjective cognitive
decline. Participants and caregivers in the health coach intervention program worked with an
additional clinical team member, a "brain health champion" (BHC), who carried out weekly
motivational interviewing and phone calls, with additional in-person visits every 6 weeks. In
weekly encounters, BHCs and patients/caregivers worked together to establish and update
personalized, attainable goals. Participants in the control group received standard
counseling and education from providers during their as-routine clinic visits. Using
questionnaires validated in cognitively impaired populations, changes in physical activity,
dietary pattern, and social and cognitive activities were measured Other outcomes included
measures of QOL, cognitive function, neuropsychiatric status, sleep quality, and behavior.
Follow-up assessments were also completed at 3 and 6 months post-intervention, with some
patients receiving "booster" encounters to assess the maintenance of behaviors.

Inclusion criteria:

- Be age 50 to 95

- Be an established patient at the Alzheimer Center at BWH, in that one has seen a
behavioral neurologist at the Center at least once, with a plan for longitudinal
neurologic care in the Center

- Have a diagnosis of Subjective Cognitive Disorder (SCD) with an (MMSE guideline
27-30), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer disease (AD), cerebrovascular
disease (CVD), or mixed-type AD/CVD with an (MMSE guideline) 24-30, or mild dementia
due to AD, CVD, or mixed-AD/CVD with an (MMSE guideline 20-30). In some cases, based
on the clinical judgment of the treating neurologist, we may enroll a patient who
falls outside of these guidelines or whose diagnosis and overall level of functioning
does not perfectly correlate to their MMSE score.

- Be sufficiently fluent in the English language to understand instructions and perform
the cognitive and functional tests

- Be able to travel to BWH for monthly follow up visits with the BHC study team.

Exclusion criteria:

- Be enrolled in another health behavior or non-pharmacologic intervention for a
neurocognitive disorder

- Be unable to or unwilling to carry out regular physical exercise, multiple times
weekly.

- Be not recommended to participate by their Internist/Primary Care Provider due to
health-related concerns.