Multidomain Intervention for the Reversal of Cognitive Frailty Using a Personalized Approach (AGELESS Trial): Recruitment and Baseline Characteristics of Participants

Background

Reversal of cognitive frailty through a multidomain intervention is desirable to prevent dementia. AGELESS Trial was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a comprehensive, multidomain intervention on older adults with cognitive frailty in Malaysia. However, conducting a clinical trial, particularly during and after Covid-19, posed unique challenges.

Objective

We aimed to investigate the recruitment process and baseline characteristics of the AGELESS Trial participants to better understand an at-risk population and those who agree to participate in an intervention.

Design/Setting

24-month, randomized controlled trial.

Participants

Community-dwelling older adults with independent mobility, aged ≥ 60 years, with a mini mental state examination score of 19–25, a clinical dementia rating of 0.5 ≥ 1 Fried’s physical frailty criteria, and < 22 Beck depression inventory.

Intervention

Participants were randomized 1:1 to a structured multidomain intervention consisting of vascular management, diet, exercise, cognitive and psychosocial stimulation, or to the arm, including routine care and general health consultation.

Measurement

We analyzed the group differences between (1) cognitive frailty and non-cognitive frailty screened subjects, (2) recruited and non-recruited participants, (3) baseline characteristics of participants by arm, (4) adherence to AGELESS intervention at 12 months, and (5) preliminary findings on the effectiveness of the intervention at 12 months.

Results

A total of 957 older adults from two locations, i.e., urban (n = 764) and rural (n = 193) areas, were screened, of whom 38.9% had cognitive frailty and were eligible to participate. Those with cognitive frailty had fewer years of education (B = −0.08; 95%CI = 0.88–0.97; p = 0.002), and lower functioning cognition (B = −0.24; 95%CI = 0.74–0.84; p < 0.001). Among those from urban areas, only 33.1% (n = 106) agreed to participate, particularly those with multimorbidity (B = 0.86; 95%CI = 1.31–4.30; p = 0.01), higher physical activity (B = −1.02; 95%CI = 0.19–0.69; p = 0.002), slower walking speed (B = 1.26; 95%CI = 1.62–7.61; p = 0.001), and higher systolic blood pressure (B = 0.02; 95%CI = 1.00–1.03; p = 0.03). At baseline, participants’ mean age was 68.1±5.6, years of education was 8.3±3.9, body mass index was 27.5±5.3 kg/m², and mini mental state examination score was 22.7±4.0. Generally, there were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups for the main outcomes, except those in the intervention group had higher body mass index, mid-upper-arm circumference, and waist circumference (p < 0.05 for all parameters). Overall intervention adherence at 12 months was 52.8%, ranging from 52.8%–90.6% for each of the modules. Preliminary analysis of the effectiveness of the intervention at 12 months was positive on most of the cognitive domains, some of the nutrient intake and food groups, physical function, and vascular outcomes (p < 0.05 for all parameters).

Conclusion

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, screening, recruitment, and 12-month intervention delivery were achieved in a Malaysian multidomain preventive randomized controlled trial in older adults at risk of dementia, with a satisfactory adherence rate and cognitive benefits at 12 months.