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Change in Depression, Confidence, and Physical Function Among Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Ellis JL, Altenburger P, Lu Y.. Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001), 2019-07-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background and purpose Nearly a quarter of those in the United States older than 71 years experience mild cognitive impairment. Persons with mild cognitive impairment battle depression and progressive disengagement from daily activities, which contribute to participation restriction and activity limitation. Daily engagement in meaningful activity (DEMA) is a tailored intervention designed to benefit persons with mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers through preserved engagement and supported adjustment to cognitive changes. This secondary analysis was guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model. Aims were to (i) explore the extent to which change in self-rated activity performance and physical function can predict change in depressive symptoms, (ii) evaluate for difference in confidence and depressive symptoms at ICF levels of activity and participation, and (iii) quantify the impact of daily engagement at the ICF level of participation on physical function. Methods A secondary analysis was conducted using data from the parent study, which was a 2-group randomized trial involving persons with mild cognitive impairment and their informal caregivers participating in the Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center DEMA program. Quantitative analysis (dyads: DEMA N = 20, Information Support N = 20) examined outcomes at posttest and follow-up. Analysis employed linear regression to model the relationship between explanatory and dependent variables and independent t test to examine for difference in confidence, depression, and physical function. Results and discussion At posttest, change in self-rated performance predicted change in depressive symptoms. Those in the DEMA group who engaged in activity at the ICF level of participation demonstrated a significant increase in confidence and physical function. Although not significant, the control group posttest results showed a mean decrease in confidence. Conclusions Results demonstrate a positive impact of DEMA on depressive symptoms, confidence, and physical function. Change in occupational performance predicted change in depressive symptoms. Confidence significantly improved among those who engaged at the ICF participation level. A larger, randomized controlled longitudinal trial is needed to better assess the impact of DEMA on physical function, activity, participation restriction, and quality of life.
Key findings
- Results and discussion At posttest, change in self-rated performance predicted change in depressive symptoms.
- Those in the DEMA group who engaged in activity at the ICF level of participation demonstrated a significant increase in confidence and physical function.
- Although not significant, the control group posttest results showed a mean decrease in confidence.
- Conclusions Results demonstrate a positive impact of DEMA on depressive symptoms, confidence, and physical function.
- Confidence significantly improved among those who engaged at the ICF participation level.
Why it matters
In this small secondary analysis of 40 people with mild cognitive impairment, those in the daily engagement group showed significant increases in confidence and physical function, and change in self-rated performance predicted change in depressive symptoms. It concerns activity and well-being in mild cognitive impairment, not treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Participants20
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 66/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 42 of the 64 points we could judge it on, which is 66 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 20 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (OpenAlex dates this DOI to 2017, the record says 2019; OpenAlex values not used) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29059120) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 42 / 64 | Scored on 12 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 42 of the 64 points we could judge it on is 66 out of 100. |
| Total | 66 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1519/jpt.0000000000000143
- PubMed: 29059120
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Ellis, J. L., Altenburger, P., & Lu, Y. (2019). Change in Depression, Confidence, and Physical Function Among Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment. Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001). https://doi.org/10.1519/jpt.0000000000000143
Vancouver
Ellis JL, Altenburger P, Lu Y. Change in Depression, Confidence, and Physical Function Among Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment. Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001). 2019. doi:10.1519/jpt.0000000000000143. PMID: 29059120.
BibTeX
@article{ellis2019-29059120,
author = {Ellis, J. L. and Altenburger, P. and Lu, Y.},
title = {{Change in Depression, Confidence, and Physical Function Among Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment}},
journal = {Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1519/jpt.0000000000000143},
pmid = {29059120},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1519/jpt.0000000000000143}
}
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