AUTHOR=Sun Jingxian , Zeng Hui , Pan Lu , Wang Xiaosong , Liu Mengjiao 

TITLE=Acupressure and Cognitive Training Can Improve Cognitive Functions of Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.726083

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2021.726083

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Given the limited effectiveness of pharmacological treatments in mitigating cognitive decline in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), there is a pressing need for developing effective non-pharmacological intervention programs to counteract MCI-related cognitive decline. Acupressure and cognitive training are safe and cost-effective; however, evidence of the effect of acupressure or the combined effect of acupressure and cognitive training on cognitive functions of older adults with MCI is limited.</p><p><bold>Objective:</bold> To evaluate both the individual and combined effects of acupressure and cognitive training on cognitive functions of older adults with MCI.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> One hundred and eighty older adults with MCI were recruited and randomly assigned to combined acupressure and cognitive training group (<italic>n</italic> = 45), acupressure group (<italic>n</italic> = 45), cognitive training group (<italic>n</italic> = 45), or control group (<italic>n</italic> = 45). Participants in the experimental groups received self-administered and group-based training sessions, while those in the control group received routine community education. The intervention lasted for 6 months. The cognitive functions of all the participants were assessed at multiple stages, including pre-intervention, at the end of the third and sixth months.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> One hundred and fifty-one participants completed the study, and all participants analyzed in intervention groups completed at least 85% of all practice sessions recommended. Repeated measures analysis of variance of the scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at different time points among the four groups revealed that the group effect, time effect, and interaction effect were all significant (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction showed that the scores of MMSE and MoCA in acupressure group, cognitive training group, and combined group were significantly raised compared with control group (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Compared with acupressure or cognitive training groups, the scores of MMSE and MoCA in combined group were significantly higher (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). The scores of MMSE and MoCA in acupressure group had no significant differences with those in cognitive training group (<italic>p</italic> &gt; 0.05).</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Acupressure and cognitive training both could improve the cognitive functions of older adults with MCI, and when used together, the effects were enhanced.</p><p><bold>Clinical Trial Registration:</bold> This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No.ChiCTR2100049955).</p>