Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial of Choral Singing Intervention to Prevent Cognitive Decline in At-Risk Older Adults Living in the Community

Introduction: This study is a parallel-arm randomized controlled trial evaluating choral singing’s efficacy and underlying mechanisms in preventing cognitive decline in at-risk older participants.Methods: Three-hundred and sixty community-dwelling, non-demented older participants are recruited for a 2-year intervention. Inclusion criteria are self-reported cognitive complaints, early cognitive impairment based on neuropsychological test scores or multiple risk factors of dementia. Participants are randomized to either weekly choral singing sessions or general health education. The primary outcome is cognitive performance, measured by a composite cognitive test score (CCTS). Secondary outcomes include depression, anxiety and neuropsychiatric symptoms; perceived stress; sleep quality and severity of dementia symptoms. Underlying mechanisms are examined using blood- and urine-based biomarkers and neuroimaging.Results: Screening began in July 2016. The first group of participants (n = 93) have been recruited. Intervention and control treatments are ongoing and will end in December 2019.Discussion: An evidence-based singing intervention for dementia prevention holds potential for healthcare savings and societal welfare.Trial Registration: NCT02919748, IRB Approval Number: NUS 2508

Effects of Antimalarial Drugs on Neuroinflammation-Potential Use for Treatment of COVID-19-Related Neurologic Complications

10.1007/s12035-020-02093-zMOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY581106-11

Protective Effect of Ergothioneine against 7-Ketocholesterol-Induced Mitochondrial Damage in hCMEC/D3 Human Brain Endothelial Cells

10.3390/ijms24065498INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES24

The Association between Mushroom Consumption and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Singapore

10.3233/JAD-180959JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE681197-20

Effect of Ergothioneine on 7-Ketocholesterol-Induced Endothelial Injury

10.1007/s12017-020-08620-4NEUROMOLECULAR MEDICINE231184-19

Mindfulness Awareness Practice (MAP) to Prevent Dementia in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial and Implementation Outcomes

10.3390/ijerph181910205INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH181

Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial of Choral Singing Intervention to Prevent Cognitive Decline in At-Risk Older Adults Living in the Community.

Introduction: This study is a parallel-arm randomized controlled trial evaluating choral singing's efficacy and underlying mechanisms in preventing cognitive decline in at-risk older participants. Methods: Three-hundred and sixty community-dwelling, non-demented older participants are recruited for a 2-year intervention. Inclusion criteria are self-reported cognitive complaints, early cognitive impairment based on neuropsychological test scores or multiple risk factors of dementia. Participants are randomized to either weekly choral singing sessions or general health education. The primary outcome is cognitive performance, measured by a composite cognitive test score (CCTS). Secondary outcomes include depression, anxiety and neuropsychiatric symptoms; perceived stress; sleep quality and severity of dementia symptoms. Underlying mechanisms are examined using blood- and urine-based biomarkers and neuroimaging. Results: Screening began in July 2016. The first group of participants (n = 93) have been recruited. Intervention and control treatments are ongoing and will end in December 2019. Discussion: An evidence-based singing intervention for dementia prevention holds potential for healthcare savings and societal welfare. Trial Registration: NCT02919748, IRB Approval Number: NUS 2508

Cohort profile : the diet and healthy aging (DaHA) study in Singapore

How diet is related with cognition and health has not been systematically examined in Asians whose eating habits are very different from their counterparts in the West and the biological mechanisms underlying such links are not well known yet. The diet and healthy aging (DaHA) study is a community-based longitudinal study conducted to examine the role of diet and nutrition in promoting cognitive, emotional, and physical health among community-living elderly Singaporeans. The first wave of DaHA, conducted from 2011 to 2017, provided detailed information on diet and baseline cognitive function and health from 1010 community-living elderly in Singapore. Biomarkers of oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and genetic information were collected. The ongoing second wave of DaHA is conducted from 2017 to 2020, which provides follow- up assessments using established cognitive tests and clinical tools. This well-characterized cohort, with its archived biological samples and high-quality data on diet and lifestyle factors will allow researchers to explore the relationships among diet, nutrition, genes, cognition, mental and physical health in an extremely cost-effective manner. Translations of the research findings into clinical and public health practices will potentially help to promote cognitive health at the population level and reduce healthcare costs related to cognitive impairment.National Medical Research Council (NMRC)Published versionThis work is supported by the following grants awarded to Dr Lei Feng: the National University of Singapore Virtual Institute for the Study of Ageing [grant number VG-8]; the Alice Lim Memorial Fund, Singapore [grant number ALMFA/2010]; the National Medical Research Council of Singapore [grant number NMRC/TA/ 0053/2016]

Cohort profile: the Diet and Healthy Aging (DaHA) study in Singapore

10.18632/aging.104051AGING-US122323889-2389