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Dementia

New Dementia Prevention Program Shows Promise in Improving Cognition

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at University College London have conducted a multicenter, single-masked, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a lower-intensity, personally-tailored dementia prevention program in improving cognition in adults with subjective cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment. The trial, known as APPLE-Tree, promoted healthy lifestyles, social connections, enjoyable activities, and self-management of long-term conditions through a combination of group video-call sessions and individual goal-setting calls. The primary outcome was cognition at 24 months, with the results showing a small but statistically insignificant improvement in the intervention group compared to the control group.

Key Takeaways:

  • The APPLE-Tree intervention, a lower-intensity, personally-tailored dementia prevention program, showed promising results in improving cognition in adults with subjective cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment.
  • The trial recruited 746 participants, with 374 in the intervention group and 372 in the control group, and found that mean NTB scores increased in both groups over time, with greater improvement in the intervention group.
  • Serious adverse events occurred in 35 (9%) participants in the intervention group and 30 (8%) participants in the control group, with none being intervention-related.
  • The study utilized a multisite, single-masked, randomized controlled clinical trial design, recruiting older adults with subjective cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment across 11 sites in England.
  • The intervention was accessible and can be delivered remotely by non-clinical facilitators, making it a potential candidate for wide-scale implementation to support adults with memory concerns.
  • The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a lower-intensity, personally-tailored dementia prevention program in improving cognition in adults with subjective cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment.
  • The research was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research program grant.

Statistics:

  • 65% of participants were female, and 35% were male.
  • The mean age of participants was 73.4 years.
  • The mean NTB scores increased in both groups over time, with greater improvement in the intervention group (mean 24-month NTB 0·33 [SD 0·67] vs 0·21 [0·75]).
  • Serious adverse events occurred in 9% of participants in the intervention group and 8% of participants in the control group.
  • The primary outcome analysis included 635 (85%) of 746 participants.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New Dementia Findings Has Been Reported by Researchers at University College London (UCL) [Remote, lower-intensity, multidomain lifestyle intervention for subjective cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment (APPLE-Tree): a multicentre, ...]. Mental Health Weekly Digest. November 3, 2025; p 319.
  • Lancet Healthy Longevity. Remote, lower-intensity, multidomain lifestyle intervention for subjective cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment (APPLE-Tree): a multicentre, single-masked, randomised controlled trial. 2025:100777.

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