Brief, interoceptive exposure focused treatment for anxiety in mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Anxiety is common in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Anxiety has also been identified as a risk factor for cognitive decline. Brief interventions targeting risk mechanisms of anxiety, such as anxiety sensitivity (AS), have been effective in reducing overall anxiety in a variety of populations. This case series investigated the feasibility and efficacy of a brief AS intervention in anxious older adults with MCI (n = 9). Paired samples t-test results indicate that this intervention is capable of significantly reducing AS as measured by the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (Δ= 5.11, Hedges g = 0.82, P < 0.05). Given these large AS reductions and high acceptability, further investigation of this intervention is warranted in older adults with MCI.