Studying the Effects of Digital Interventions on Cognition, Wellbeing, Stress, and Sleep in Older Adults

Mean change in sleep quality (i.e., total sleep time / time in bed, therefore this measure incorporates latency to sleep onset, total sleep time, wake after sleep onset and early morning waking, with higher numbers associated with better sleep) over time [Time Frame: baseline, immediate follow-up, and at a 6 month follow-up in a subset of participants]

Measures of heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA) while participants perform a stress-inducing task

200 mL of blood will be collected from each participant before and after the intervention. Blood will be centrifuged for whole blood cell acquisition and stored at -80 °C for subsequent batch testing. Telomere length (T/S ratio) will be quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Mean performance on a distracted attention task will be compared pre and post intervention. Divided attention performance will be assessed using the Filter Task that places simultaneous demands on perceptual discrimination abilities and distraction filtering.

Based on previous studies of meditation training and our preliminary data, we predict that MediTrain will lead to significantly enhanced midline frontal theta power during the TOVA in MCI as compared to OA. Beyond most prior studies, by collecting structural MRI data, we will be able to source-localize any observed changes in midline frontal theta.

We also expect MediTrain will augment intrinsic Default Mode Network (DMN) connectivity, both functionally (measured with resting fMRI111,112) and structurally (measured with DTI-based connectomes). This is hypothesized based on the known association between the DMN,

The ACE is a mobile cognitive assessment tool, which includes a battery of cognitive control tests for rapid tests of cognition. The sub-tests (or 'modules') in ACE are adapted from standardized tasks to rapidly assess various aspects of cognition, including attention, memory, and multitasking. We will assess response time, accuracy, and response time variability in each case, with faster/more accurate/less variable performance being indicative of improved cognitive control, meditation, and frontal theta power.

We will assess time spent in NonREM stages 1 (N1), 2 (N2) and 3 (N3) sleep and REM sleep (RS), latency to sleep onset (SOL), and wake after sleep onset (WASO). We will also assess delta power during sleep stages and wake; and overall sleep maintenance (SM) and sleep efficiency (SE). Diminished time spent in SOL and WASO, increased time N2, N3 and REM sleep, increased delta during NonREM sleep are each signs of improved sleep. Increases in SM and SE indicated improved, more stable sleep patterns

Mnemonic discrimination task tests recognition memory for common objects, as reported in scores on a scale of the Lure Discrimination Index ranging from 0.00 to 1.00 where higher values show better performance.

functional MRI data associated With Training-induced Changes in Mnemonic Discrimination will be analyzed in terms of beta-series correlations between co-active cortical regions of interest and compared between treatment arms and timepoints.

The Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog) measures the ability to perform everyday tasks that demand memory, language, visuospatial abilities, planning, organization, and divided attention. The ECog consists of a global and domain scores for each of the previously described categories, and is scored as follows: 1= better or no change compared to 10 years earlier, 2= questionable/occasionally worse compared to 10 years earlier, 3= consistently a little worse compared to 10 years earlier, 4= consistently much worse compared to 10 years earlier. Thus, the lower the overall score is on this measure at both the global and domain score level, the better one is performing with respect to their cognition.

SF-36 (overall health) The general health and well-being (SF-36) score assesses participant health. The SF-36 score ranges from 0 to 100. The higher the overall score is on this measure, the better one is performing with respect to their health and well-being.

Perceived Stress Scale A survey that measures the degree to which situations in one's life are perceived as stressful. Scores range from 0 to 40 with higher scores representing more perceived stress. We will report change in means over time.

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-report questionnaire that assesses sleep quality over a 1-month time interval. The measure consists of 19 individual items, creating 7 components that produce one global score, and takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Overall scores range from 0 to 21, with lower scores representing healthier sleep quality. We will report change in means over time.

The ESS is a self-administered questionnaire with 8 questions. Respondents are asked to rate, on a 4-point scale (0-3), their usual chances of dozing off or falling asleep while engaged in eight different activities. The ESS score (the sum of 8 item scores, 0-3) can range from 0 to 24. The higher the ESS score, the higher that person's average sleep propensity in daily life.

POMS is a 65 questions psychometric instrument that measures the mood states of tension, depression, anger, vigor, fatigue, and confusion.

The Berlin Questionnaire consists of 3 categories of questions related to the risk of having sleep apnea. Patients can be classified into High Risk or Low Risk based on their responses to the individual items and their overall scores in the symptom categories.

The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a brief screening tool for insomnia. It consists of seven questions regarding the nature and symptoms of sleep problems that respondents rate using a Likert scale ranging from 0 to 4. A total score of 0-7 indicates "no clinically significant insomnia," 8-14 means "subthreshold insomnia," 15-21 is "clinical insomnia (moderate severity)," and 22-28 means "clinical insomnia (severe).