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ObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionsClinical ImplicationsTo evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a virtually delivered psychoeducational skill-building intervention for ADRD caregivers.A single-arm, pre-posttest pilot study design was employed to evaluate the intervention. Four 90-min group-based weekly sessions were combined with four individual coaching sessions via Zoom. Intervention components covered topics designed to reduce caregiver stress and distress, and a VR experience to help caregivers understand dementia. Data was gathered via REDCap pre- and post-intervention and through post-intervention interviews via Zoom.Results (N = 20) from individual interviews, surveys, and treatment implementation strategies suggest strong feasibility and acceptability. Key change exploration indicated medium effect sizes and statistical significance in preparedness for caregiving (t(19) = 2.69, p = .015, d = 63), communication (t(19) = 2.45, p = .024, d = 0.55), and a medium effect size for the mindful attention awareness scale (t(19) = 0.48, p = (0.637, d = 0.54). Further, participants reported their perceptions of improvement in outcomes such as the ability to care, increased understanding of memory loss, and confidence.Through Alzheimer’s Eyes is a feasible and acceptable intervention that blends technology with skill-building strategies to help caregivers manage their stress and distress regardless of their location.There is potential for interventions including VR to assist family caregivers in managing caregiving challenges and improve well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining brain health and promoting healthy lifestyle strategies to manage modifiable risk factors is vital to ensuring well-being for all – not only for the individuals with memory challenges but also their family caregivers and professional providers. In this brief review paper, we highlight modifiable risk and protective factors and opportunities for dementia risk reduction (e.g., limited alcohol use and reduced exposure to air pollution, secondhand smoke, and excessive noise); provide an overview of the World-Wide FINGERS Network and its goal to adapt the original Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) multidomain lifestyle approach in various settings to determine whether the protocol is effective across different populations in varied geographic, cultural, and economic settings and to optimize the model across a continuum of cognitive decline; and, comment on challenges and opportunities for researchers and clinicians including opportunities for risk reduction and intervention in primary care settings and the need to establish linkages across multiple levels of intervention to sustain behavior change in prevention, treatment, and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of this study was to identify which activities or interventions cause changes in the quality of life of the elderly. It involved a systematic review of the literature in the Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Scielo, Lilacs, BDenf and PubMed databases. The key word for the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) used was "quality of life," in combination with the terms of greatest interest: "elderly, motor activity, education." The research was conducted between July and August 2015 and included original works published between 2010 and 2015 in English, Portuguese and Spanish. The Cochrane strategy was also adopted for the preparation of the review. Twenty-seven articles were studied that compared the quality of life of the elderly before and after performing a physical, educational or mixed-type intervention. The main result obtained was that the general health, social function, physical role and satisfaction with life are the most influenced domains, whereby group physical activities are practiced the most. The conclusion drawn is that when carrying out activities of any kind, preferably adapted for age, there are changes in the quality of life of the elderly in a general manner, notably with an improvement in functional, mental and social aspects.