A MIND-Based Diet With or Without Digital Cognitive Training Improves Cognitive Function and Nutritional Status in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment.

BACKGROUND

Given the growing prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among the aging population, there is a critical need for multifaceted lifestyle interventions that combine nutritional support with cognitive stimulation to prevent further decline.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a cognitive function improvement management diet (Diet), with or without a digital cognitive enhancement program (SUPERBRAIN for group; SG), on cognitive function in adults aged 65 years or older with MCI attending daycare centers.

METHODS

This 12 week cluster-randomized controlled trial included 80 older adults. Participants were assigned to a dietary intervention group (Diet, n = 33), a combined dietary and program intervention group (Diet+SG, n = 28), or a control group (n = 19) in an open-label trial. The MIND-based diet was provided to the Diet and Diet+SG groups as meals and snacks five days per week. Assessments included anthropometry, physical measurements, blood parameters, nutritional indices, quality of life, activities of daily living, and cognitive function. Cognitive outcomes were evaluated using the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination 2 and the Clinical Dementia Rating.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, both the Diet and Diet+SG groups showed significant improvements in nutritional status (NQ-E, p < 0.001), quality of life (EQ-5D-5L, p < 0.001), activities of daily living (K-ADL, p < 0.001; K-IADL, p < 0.001), and cognitive function (K-MMSE2, p < 0.001). Improvements in average and maximum muscle strength (p < 0.001), indicators of frailty, were observed only in the Diet+SG group compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that adults with MCI may derive benefits from the combined application of a cognitive function improvement management diet and a digital cognitive enhancement program.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER AND WEBSITE WHERE IT WAS OBTAINED: Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) with registration number KCT0009528.(https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?search_lang=E&focus=reset_12&search_page=L&pageSize=10&page=undefined&seq=27374&status=5&seq_group=27374).