Memory support program for older Chinese American adults with mild cognitive impairment
Official title: A Pilot of Memory Support System for Older Chinese Americans With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Run by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NCT07142499 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether the Memory Support System helps Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking Chinese American older adults with mild cognitive impairment manage everyday memory and thinking challenges.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 55 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 7 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New York, New York) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 29, 2025 |
| Main results expected | March 2026 |
| Study ends | May 2026 |
| Registry record updated | November 6, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07142499 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are Chinese American adults aged 55 or older who primarily speak Mandarin or Cantonese, can read and write Chinese, have a confirmed diagnosis of MCI, and have a regular study partner or informant.
✕Probably not a fit
People with significant neurologic disease, a recent DSM-5 psychiatric disorder, reading or writing disability that interferes with training, inability to read/write Chinese, or those enrolled in another relevant clinical trial are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The trial adapts the Memory Support System (MSS) from the HABIT program for Chinese American older adults with MCI and pairs it with brain health education. Sixty participants (30 Mandarin-speaking, 30 Cantonese-speaking) will be enrolled, with 40 receiving trainer-led day-planner training and 20 completing a self-study version. Participants must be age 55+, able to read and write Chinese, have a confirmed MCI diagnosis, and have a study partner available to provide collateral information. Outcomes will focus on everyday memory use, functional independence, and feasibility of the culturally and linguistically adapted intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could help Chinese American older adults with MCI improve day-to-day memory management and maintain independence longer.
How similar studies have gone: The MSS from HABIT has demonstrated benefits in non-Hispanic White, English-speaking populations, but its use in Chinese American, Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking groups is novel and under-studied.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: * self-identify as Chinese American; * age 55 and above; * a diagnosis of MCI as confirmed through documented clinical assessment and/or research-based diagnostic criteria; * predominantly Cantonese- or Mandarin-speaking; * able to read and write in Chinese; * visual and auditory acuity adequate for cognitive testing; * willing to complete the assessment measures; * having someone in regular contact to serve as a study partner/informant; * absence or stable use of prescribed memory-enhancing medications within the last 3 months. Exclusion criteria include: * any significant neurologic disease that would impact their participation and completion of the trial; * history of psychiatry disorder (DSM 5 criteria) within the last 12 months; * history of reading or writing disability sufficient to interfere with MSS training; or * concurrent participation in another relevant clinical trial.
Where it's running
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Li Lab, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Clara Li, PhD — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Clara Li, PhD
- Email: clara.li@mssm.edu
- Phone: 212-585-4631
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.