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AKTIVA-MCI is a program for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that aims to enhance participation in cognitively stimulating leisure activities. Participation in cognitively stimulating activities seems to be a potential strategy for people with MCI delaying cognitive decline for a while. In total, 35 MCI patients were enrolled in the pilot study of whom 29 completed the whole program (16 female, 71.1±7.5 years; Mini Mental Status Examination score: 28±2.2). Daily activity protocols were used to measure the frequency of participation in cognitively stimulating activities during the program (12 sessions). Additional standardized psychometric tests and questionnaires were used to assess cognition, mood, and subjective memory decline. Analyses of the daily activity protocols showed that during the intervention participants increased the frequency of several cognitively stimulating leisure activities. Comparison of pre-post data indicates no changes in cognitive status, mood, and subjective memory decline. These findings indicate that the program is suitable for patients with MCI.
Hypercholesterolemia and elevated homocysteine concentrations are associated with cardiovascular risk. Previous studies have demonstrated a cholesterol-lowering effect of red yeast rice (RYR) supplements which contained 5 to 10 mg of monacolin K. We hypothesized that the intake of a low monacolin K dose may likewise reduce low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and other plasma lipids. In secondary analyses, we tested the homocysteine lowering effect of folic acid, which was also included in the study preparation. Therefore, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled intervention study. One hundred forty-two nonstatin-treated participants with hypercholesterolemia (LDL-C ≥ 4.14 ≤ 5.69 mmol/L) were randomized to the supplement group with RYR or the placebo group. Participants of the supplement group consumed 3 mg monacolin K and 200 μg folic acid per day. A significant (P < .001) reduction of LDL-C (-14.8%), total cholesterol (-11.2%), and homocysteine (-12.5%) was determined in the supplement group after 12 weeks. A total of 51% of the participants treated with RYR achieved the limit of LDL-C <4.14 mmol/L advised and 26% reached the threshold level of homocysteine <10 μmol/L. No significant changes were exhibited within the placebo group. Other parameters remained unchanged and no intolerances or serious adverse events were observed. In conclusion, we demonstrated that a low dose of daily 3 mg monacolin K from RYR reduces the concentration of LDL-C; a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.