Authors (including presenting author) :
Yeung KK (1), Ip MW (1), Chow TH (1), Cheung HL (1), Chow YY (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Tai Po Hospital
Keyword 2: :
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Keyword 3: :
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
Keyword 4: :
Non-pharmacological Intervention
Keyword 5: :
Therapeutic Toys
Introduction :
9.7% of Hong Kong's elderly have dementia. This condition is preceded by Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) which affects 23.7% of elders globally. Up to two-thirds of PwMCI have experienced neuropsychiatric symptoms and created a significant burden for caregivers. MCI is a critical window for intervention to preserve cognition and manage symptoms. Traditional management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in PwMCI involves sedating medication and physical limitation. Our "Brain Play Buddy" program uses tailored toys for sensory and cognitive stimulation. These toys engage the senses of touch, sight and hearing of PwMCI. Their cognitive domains are also stimulated. The program provided 24-hour / 7-day care with sustainability and lower costs.
Objectives :
(1)To maintain cognitive function of PwMCI (2)To reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms in PwMCI
Methodology :
The program utilized a quasi-experimental pre-post design, 24 participants were recruited via convenience sampling with the following criteria: MoCA-5 score ≤ 16th percentile, presented with ≥1 neuropsychiatric symptoms in Chinese version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (CNPI) and could communicate verbally. The program ran daily from 4–5 PM between Q4 2024 to Q2 2025 (7 months). Outcomes were measured using pre- / post-intervention MoCA-5 and CNPI scores. The data were analyzed with mean and paired t-tests.
Result & Outcome :
24 male patients were recruited with 4 dropouts. The participation rate is 83%. Cognitive function improved significantly, with mean MoCA-5 scores increased from 7.025 to 9.025 (P< 0.05). There are also significant reductions in neuropsychiatric symptoms, as measured by a decrease in mean CNPI scores from 27.95 to 11.3 (P< 0.01). The top three neuropsychiatric symptoms are apathy, agitation and nighttime behavior with improvement. The mean scores of apathy, agitation and nighttime behavior were decreased from 9 to 5.3, 8.2 to 1.5 and 3 to 1.55 respectively. To conclude, the program effectively improves cognitive function and reduces neuropsychiatric symptoms in PwMCI. They enjoyed drawing and puzzles most, as they reported successfully finishing these activities gave them a strong sense of confidence. These Findings are limited by small sample size, further studies are required to confirm the benefit.
