Impact of Covid-19 on Frequent Social Interaction Through Communication Technologies in the Cognitive Status of Socially-isolated Older Adults

The current study will examine the impact of frequent social interaction through communication technologies during COVID-19 pandemic in the cognitive status of socially-isolated older adults with and without cognitive impairment. An estimated 150 total participants will be recruited over the course of 1 year: 50 healthy older participants, 50 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and 50 patients with mild AD. This study employs an AB/BA crossover design (2-sequence, 2-period, 2-treatment design) where A will be the intervention phase and B will be the passive control phase. Each period will occur over a duration of 1 month. Participants will either receive an intervention designed to provide participants with more social interaction during a time of social distancing and highly limited in-person social interactions (Intervention Group) or will not receive the intervention (Control Group). The investigators will conduct pre- and post- neuropsychological testing to assess changes in cognitive status (e.g., memory, language, executive functioning) in the intervention group after each intervention phase. Neuropsychological tests assessing changes to cognition will be completed prior to participant assignment to the Intervention or Control Group. Following this assessment, the first phase of the intervention will begin, and the initial intervention group (Group A) will receive the intervention, and the other group (Group B) will act as a control group. After the intervention phase has ended, both groups will be assessed again using neuropsychological tests. Following the re-assessment, Group B will receive the intervention, and Group A will act as a control. After the second intervention phase has ended, both groups will be assessed once more using neuropsychological tests.