2.1. Participants and Design
schizophrenia, psychiatric, cognitive impairment
BLOOD, TYPE 1 DIABETES
Individuals aged 60–85 with possible mild cognitive impairment were recruited from a senior health clinic, the local community, and from a participant registry for participation in this two-arm randomized pilot trial. A telephone screen was completed with 109 individuals to evaluate initial eligibility. Participants were scheduled to complete the informed consent process if they were between the ages of 60–85, interested in the described nutrition program, had internet access, were English-speaking, and had a score of >1 on the Memory Complaint Scale (MCS) or a Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment (TMoCA) adjusted score between 19 and 26. Participants were excluded if they reported any of the following: (1) major or unstable health conditions, including Type 1 diabetes, (2) major psychiatric conditions (e.g., schizophrenia), (3) being under-weight based on a BMI < 19 kg/mAll participants completed in-person assessments at baseline (within 2-weeks of beginning the program), at 6-weeks (the final week of the program), and at 3-months post-intervention. Additionally, participants used at-home urinalysis test strips to assess ketone levels daily, logged at least three days of food and drink intake, and completed weekly surveys to input this and other relevant health and psychosocial information during the 6-week program. Blood draws were completed at baseline and 6-weeks, and brief neuropsychological testing was completed at each in-person appointment in addition to standardized health and psychosocial measures of functioning. Additionally, at the 6-week and 3-month post-intervention assessments, participants completed exit interviews about their experience in the program and study in order to identify barriers and facilitators for refining the program and study protocol to enhance participants’ experience.