Spanish Translation and Cultural Adaptation of the Memory Support System

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) constitutes a high-risk state for conversion to dementia, making the search for interventions an urgent priority. In the absence of medications or dietary agents that improve cognition or delay MCI progression, offering nonpharmacological care approaches is currently considered good practice. Despite that, there are only a few evidence-based cognitive interventions for individuals with MCI available in the U.S. and, to the best of our knowledge, none is culturally sensitive to Hispanics; a group more prone to Alzheimer's disease or other dementias compared to non-Hispanic Whites. The overall goal and primary aim of this pilot project is to translate and begin to culturally adapt an evidence-based compensatory cognitive rehabilitation intervention, the Memory Support System (MSS), for Spanish-speaking Hispanics with subjective memory/cognitive complaints or a diagnosis of MCI and their care partners residing in the U.S. The MSS is a calendar/notetaking intervention proven effective in helping those with MCI compensate for memory loss in day-to-day function. Translation of the MSS and other materials will follow international guidelines. The Spanish MSS will be piloted in a sample of 20 participants in a within-subject, pre- and post-intervention assessment design. Outcome measures of program adherence, functional memory/general ability, self-efficacy, mood, anxiety, medication management skills, quality of life, and caregiver burden will be administered before and after the intervention, as well as at 8-week post-intervention to estimate effect size for power analyses for use in a future between-subject random assignment multicenter clinical trial. Overall, this pilot project represents an important step to significantly contribute to the development and promotion of clinical neuropsychological interventions responsive to the needs of the Hispanic community.

Inclusion criteria

• Subjective memory/cognitive complaints or a diagnosis of single or multi-domain MCI
• Global score of ≤0.5 on the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)
• Scores of ≥4 on items six to nine on the Linguistic History Form (CLS) and scores of ≤6 on items on the Functional Assessment Scale (FAS), when applicable, from the Spanish language Uniformed Data Set (UDS) from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center's (NACC);
• A score of ≥115 on the Spanish Translation of the Dementia Rating Scale-Second edition (ST-DRS-2);
• Having contact with a cognitively normal care partner screened with the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE ≥24) at least twice a week; and
• Either not taking or stable on nootropic(s) for at least 3 months.

Exclusion criteria

• Visual/hearing impairment and/or history of reading or written inability/disability sufficient to interfere with MSS training; and/or
• Inclusion in another clinical trial that would exclude participation; subject will be considered for participation at the end of such a trial or as appropriate.