Positive Psychology for Early Cognitive Decline: Effects on Cognitive and Brain Function

Summary

This randomized study tests whether a new multicomponent Positive Psychology program can improve cognition and wellbeing in older adults at the earliest stages of dementia-related decline.

About 128 participants with Subjective Cognitive Decline or Mild Cognitive Impairment will be enrolled. Half will be randomized to the Positive Psychology program and half to Treatment As Usual (TAU).

The program consists of weekly, small-group online sessions for \~24 weeks plus brief home practices. All participants (both arms) will complete questionnaires and cognitive tests at baseline, during treatment, post-treatment, and 9-month follow-up.

Primary question: Do participants receiving the Positive Psychology program show better cognitive and brain-function outcomes than TAU at post-treatment and at 9 months? Secondary question: Are effects larger for SCD than MCI? No medicines are used and risks are minimal. If effective, this scalable, low-cost, non-pharmacological approach could complement usual care for people in very early cognitive decline.

Conditions

• Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD)
• Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
• Alzheimer Dementia (AD)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Positive Psychology Intervention

Online, group-based Positive Psychology intervention delivered by trained psychologist. One 60-minute session per week for \~16 weeks plus brief daily home practice (\~10 minutes). Core components: identification and use of character strengths and mindfulness practices. Includes goal setting and habit formation. Materials provided in Greek. The sessions will take place via secure videoconference. No medications are administered. Participants will continue to receive TAU but they will have one extra hour per week for Positive Psychology Intervention.

BEHAVIORAL

Treatment as usual (TAU)

Structured cognitive training program targeting attention, memory, and executive functions. Participants will continue to receive cognitive training at Alzheimer Hellas. Activities include paper-and-pencil and computerized tasks (e.g., working-memory, processing speed, problem solving). No Positive Psychology components are included.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Alzheimer Hellas

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Despoina Moraitou, Professor, PhD · Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Psychology

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-12-17

Primary Completion

2027-06-30

Completion

2027-07-31

Countries

• Greece

Study Locations