# Cognitive Rehabilitation for Older Veterans with Mild Cognitive Impairment

> **NIH VA I01** · VA SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Due to the aging of the United States population, age-related cognitive problems resulting from Alzheimer’s
disease and other causes of dementia are increasingly prevalent. Before individuals are diagnosed with
dementia, they typically exhibit a period of “mild cognitive impairment” (MCI). Mild cognitive problems
associated with MCI frequently impact an individual’s ability to perform everyday tasks, including working,
independent living, and medication adherence. Veterans are at increased risk of cognitive decline, and the
Veterans Healthcare Administration (VA) is now providing health care to surging numbers of older Veterans
with MCI who report significant cognitive complaints, difficulties with everyday functioning, and concerns about
impending dementia. Despite high patient demand, few cognitive rehabilitation interventions exist that
specifically address the needs of older Veterans with MCI that are widely accessible, patient-centered, and
evidence-based. To our knowledge, no randomized controlled trials have been conducted that evaluate the
efficacy of manualized, brief and inexpensive, yet comprehensive (multi-modal) cognitive rehabilitation
interventions for older Veterans with MCI. Hence, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy
of Motivationally Enhanced Compensatory Cognitive Training (ME-CCT), a manualized cognitive rehabilitation
group treatment for older Veterans with MCI. The study’s specific aims are to determine whether ME-CCT is
effective for: 1) improving objective cognitive performance and functional capacity, 2) improving subjective
cognitive complaints, subjective functioning, and collateral measures of everyday function, and 3) increasing
modifiable protective factors (e.g., diet, exercise) associated with reduced risk for MCI. We will also explore
mediators and moderators of treatment effects. The overall goal is to evaluate a manualized group treatment
for the symptoms of MCI that can be readily implemented in VA treatment settings. The study design makes
use of the convergent availability of resources at the two participating VA Healthcare Systems in San Diego,
California and Portland, Oregon to conduct a randomized controlled trial of ME-CCT. The study will recruit a
sample of 216 Veterans (108 at each site) who meet criteria for MCI. Inclusion criteria will be: 1) Veterans 55
years old or older enrolled at one of the participating VAs who are able to provide informed consent, 2)
Independently living, 3) Meet criteria for MCI based on previously published criteria (Petersen, 2004; Petersen,
2011), and 4) Willingness to participate in audio-recorded group sessions. Exclusion criteria will be: 1) Current
substance use disorder with less than 30 days abstinence, 2) History of schizophrenia, schizoaffective
disorder, or other primary psychotic disorder, 3) History of significant head trauma with loss of consciousness
>30 minutes, and 4) Auditory or visual impairments that would prevent ability to par...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10812425
- **Project number:** 5I01CX001592-07
- **Recipient organization:** VA SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** Maya Elin O'Neil
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10812425

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10812425, Cognitive Rehabilitation for Older Veterans with Mild Cognitive Impairment (5I01CX001592-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10812425. Licensed CC0.

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