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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2008 Oct-Nov;23(5):477–487. doi: 10.1177/1533317508320794

Multidyad Memory Notebook Intervention for Very Mild Dementia: A Pilot Study

Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe 1, Joni T Howard 2, Shital P Pavawalla 3, Lisa Howell 4, Alicia Rueda 5
PMCID: PMC10846120  PMID: 18955726

Abstract

This pilot study examines the efficacy of a group memory notebook intervention. Five individuals with very mild dementia and 4 spouses who served as coaches attended 14 group treatment sessions. Therapists use educational strategies and learning activities packets to teach memory notebook use. At posttreatment, coaches report fewer symptoms of depression, and participants with very mild dementia report greater confidence in ability to obtain support. Modified laboratory memory testing reveals that participants with dementia demonstrate improved posttreatment memory scores because of increased note-taking behavior and more frequent referencing of notes. Although more frequent everyday memory strategies use is reported at posttreatment, this does not translate into reports of fewer everyday memory failures or greater everyday independence for the participants with dementia. This study demonstrates that a multidyad group intervention can successfully be used to teach patients with very mild dementia to use a memory notebook, with beneficial effects for both members of the care dyad.

Keywords: cognitive rehabilitation, very mild dementia, dyad, group intervention, memory training, mild cognitive impairment

Full Text

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Contributor Information

Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe, Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, schmitter-e @wsu.edu.

Joni T. Howard, Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.

Shital P. Pavawalla, Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.

Lisa Howell, Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.

Alicia Rueda, Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.

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