# Web-enabled social interaction to delay cognitive decline among seniors with MCI: Phase I Administrative Supplement

> **NIH NIH R01** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $384,399

## Abstract

Project Summary
Larger social networks and more frequent social interactions are found to be associated with lower incidence of
dementia in observational studies. Increasing social interaction may be a promising intervention for increasing
cognitive reserve and sustaining the cognitive well-being of older adults. In our previous randomized controlled
behavioral clinical trial, we developed a conversation-based social interaction cognitive stimulation protocol
delivered by trained interviewers through personal computers, webcams, and a user-friendly interactive
Internet interface with a touch screen (ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01571427). Daily 30-minute face-to-face
communications were conducted over a 6- week trial period in the intervention group. Despite a small sample
size, this pilot study (completed 6/30/2014) demonstrated feasibility, high adherence in an elderly population
(mean age 80 years) and efficacy in language-based executive functions among the intervention group in
comparison to the control group.
 Based upon these positive results, we propose a Phase I trial to advance development of this
intervention. Primary aim (Aim 1) is to examine the efficacy of our intervention on cognitive functions among
the target group - those aged 75 and older with MCI and limited opportunities of social interactions. Our
primary outcome is a global cognitive function measured by Montreal Cognitive Assessment tests (MoCA) and
secondary outcomes are cognitive domains in language-based executive and memory functions. These
cognitive outcome results are cross-validated by NIH toolbox cognitive battery. Exploratory outcomes include:
a targeted IADL function (medication use and adherence) and emotional well-being. Person-specific levels of
social interactions (i.e., average conversation outside of the trial) will be monitored and controlled in the
analyses. Exploratory Aim 2 is to examine whether the intervention could lead to changes in speech and
language characteristics over time by analyzing recorded daily conversational sessions, based on our
promising cross-sectional findings in this area. Exploratory Aim 3 is to examine underlying mechanisms of
efficacy by assessing pre- and post- trial changes measured by fMRI connectivity for targeted networks
including the default mode network (DMN), the dorsal attention network (DAN), and the salience network (SN).
A total of 144 MCI subjects will be recruited and randomized at Portland, Oregon, and Detroit, Michigan. Half of
the eligible participants will be randomly selected and invited to participate in the brain imaging study.
 Increasing daily social contact through communication technologies could offer a cost-effective home-
based prevention that could slow cognitive decline, delay the onset of AD, and thereby reduce the overall
societal burden of dementia. The oldest old is the fastest growing segment of the population in most developed
countries, and face the highest risk of developing dementia and social is...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10363310
- **Project number:** 3R01AG056102-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** HIROKO Hayama DODGE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $384,399
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10363310

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10363310, Web-enabled social interaction to delay cognitive decline among seniors with MCI: Phase I Administrative Supplement (3R01AG056102-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10363310. Licensed CC0.

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