Psychiatry and Psychology in Minnesota

Memory Training Program

Mayo Clinic has a memory training program for people who have mild cognitive impairment. Its goal is to help them learn habits that compensate for decline in mental functioning and to maintain their independence.

People diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early stage dementia (such as Alzheimer's disease) experience changes in their ability to think, learn and remember.

Research has shown that people with early cognitive impairment benefit from memory training to develop new habits to compensate for memory deficits. Incorporating these new habits can help optimize independence, improve overall health and maintain normal daily activities.

Mayo's memory training program, Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking (HABIT), is a 10-day intensive outpatient program for people with mild cognitive impairment and their care partners.

Success in the memory training program depends on having a care partner to participate alongside you. That partner can be a spouse, relative or companion who spends significant time with you.

Program Goals

Goals for participants and their partners include:

• Implementing daily wellness habits for long-term support, coping, and improved quality of life.
• Improving physical strength, stamina and flexibility.
• Helping to manage psychiatric symptoms such as depression or anxiety.
• Establishing relationships and networks for future support.
• Learning techniques to manage communication and/or behavior changes.
• Developing a comprehensive planning document for the future.

Program Staff

Staff for the memory training program at Mayo Clinic consists of a team of physicians, psychologists, education specialists, physical therapists and exercise specialists.

Program Components

The HABIT program covers five areas:

Memory Support System

The Memory Support System model is the foundation of the program. A therapist will help you and your care partner learn to incorporate a calendar and organization system into your daily routine and keep a journal to chronicle important events. The habits you learn can compensate for cognitive decline and lead to greater independence.

Medical Disease Management

Discussions with a neurologist, geriatrician, and/or psychiatrist can be arranged, as appropriate, to address issues such as disease and symptom management, medications and sleep hygiene.

Emotional Health

A daily group therapy session provides a safe, confidential and comfortable setting for expressing concerns. These sessions build support networks and help care partners gain insights into changes and challenges that participants are experiencing.

Meditation, breathing, relaxation and self-expression are used to reduce muscle tension and anxiety, and increase your sense of control.

Exercise and Movement

Regular exercise improves the heart's ability to pump blood throughout the body and maintain healthy blood flow to the brain. Exercising regularly is a major prevention strategy for memory-related problems. Yoga and meditation reduce stress and anxiety, improve concentration, and even lower blood pressure. Research suggests that practicing meditation daily can improve cognitive function among individuals with memory issues.

Wellness Education

You learn about mild cognitive impairment and dementia and tools to manage symptoms of these conditions. You also learn about the importance of proper nutrition, exercise, sleep hygiene, mental well-being and physical conditioning in maintaining good brain and body health.

Typical Day

A typical day lasts from four to six hours. Daily schedules may vary, but here is an example of a day's activities:

Morning:

Cognitive Rehabilitation Session
Mind-Body Movement
Education and Wellness Class
Lunch

Afternoon:

Emotional Support Groups
Cognitive Maintenance Activities
Relaxation and Creative Expression

Aftercare

Staff work closely with each patient and care partner to create a tailored wellness plan that translates the information, daily habits and resources covered in the program into a concise, easy-to-reference document for use at home. After the program ends, Mayo Clinic physicians will coordinate a patient's care with local providers and provide necessary referrals, as appropriate.

Contact

For information about the Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking program, contact Angela Lunde at 507-284-4059.