Compensatory strategy training has been identified as a useful mechanism to improve everyday cognitive function among older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Despite this, few studies have looked at cognitive factors that support adherence and engagement in these programs, which are key to maximizing benefit. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between cognition, adherence, and engagement during a group-based compensatory strategy training for people with MCI. We hypothesized individuals with better memory and executive function performance would show better adherence and higher engagement scores in cognitive training classes.

Twenty-five participants enrolled in Emory University's Charles and Harriet Schaffer Cognitive Empowerment Program (CEP) completed an 11-week compensatory strategy training group (CEP-CT). CEP-CT is adapted from Ecologically Oriented Neurorehabilitation to be suitable for people with MCI. Participants enrolled were on average 74.3 years old (SD= 5.4), 52% Male, primarily Caucasian (80%; 16% African American), and college educated (M= 16.5 years; SD= 2.7). All participants received clinical diagnoses of MCI prior to enrollment in the program. Participants completed multiple cognitive measures, including Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT), Trail Making Test A & B (TMT), Number Span Forward (NSF) and verbal fluency (S-words and Animals). For all group sessions, class attendance (present vs. not present) was recorded for each participant and their care partner, and engagement ratings for participants were recorded by the facilitator on a 1 to 5 scale (higher scores indicate better engagement). Outcomes include adherence to cognitive training (percentage of sessions attended; M= 82% class attendance, SD= 18%) as well as the average engagement ratings across 11 weeks (M= 3.25, SD= .40).

Bivariate Pearson correlations revealed that individuals who attended more classes also demonstrated better engagement in class, r= .44, p= .03. Class attendance was significantly related to performance on measures of memory and executive function (HVLT: r= -.42, p= .04; TMT-B: r= .69, p= .04), such that participants who performed worse on these measures attended more CEP-CT classes. Average engagement ratings were unrelated to cognitive performance.

Results did not support initial hypotheses, and instead indicate individuals with poorer performance on measures of memory and executive function had better adherence to CEP-CT classes, as measured by attendance. These results may indicate individuals experiencing cognitive difficulties are more likely to attend cognitive training classes. Subjective engagement ratings were unrelated to cognition; however, individuals who attended more sessions were more engaged in cognitive training classes. Future areas of research include objective measurement of class engagement as well as the incorporation of nuanced adherence metrics to further elucidate the relationship between these factors and cognition in MCI.