P2-536 INITIAL EXPERIENCE WITH A YOGA INTERVENTION FOR MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT Geoffrey Tremont 1 , Jennifer D. Davis 2 , Karysa Britton 3 , Lauren Kenney 3 , Victoria Sanborn 3 , Lisa Uebelacker 4 , L Thomas Gillette 5 , Bruce M. Becker 6 , Brian R. Ott 7 , 1 Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Neuropsychology Program, RI, USA; 2 Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; 3 Rhode Island Hospital, Neuropsychology Program, Providence, RI, USA; 4 Butler Hospital/Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; 5 Eyes of the World Yoga, Providence, RI, USA; 6 Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; 7 Lifespan, Providence, RI, USA. Contact e-mail: gtremont@ lifespan.org Background: Yoga is a low risk intervention that is accessible, adapt- able for older adults, easily incorporated into daily life, and poten- tially sustainable. It combines mental and physical practice and includes instruction on breathing, stress reduction, and mindfulness meditation. Previous research documents that yoga can target modi- fiable risk factors for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) progres- sion, including stress, depression, cardiovascular health, insulin resistance, and inflammation. We describe a pilot randomized clin- ical trial of yoga for individuals with MCI and present the initial experience with intervention design, recruitment, and implementa- tion. Methods: The yoga intervention was developed in collaboration with a yoga expert and through pilot testing. Sixty-minute classes were designed for safety (using props and chairs) and follow a fixed sequence of breathing practices, meditation, warmups, standing and seated postures, simple inversions, and relaxation. Classes are taught by certified yoga instructors and meet twice per week for 12 weeks. Participants are provided with a class video and encour- aged to practice at home. Healthy living education classes serve as the control condition, addressing topics relevant to aging and cogni- tive impairment (e.g., nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, mental stimulation, sleep and cognition). Participant inclusion criteria are aged 55-85, formal amnestic MCI diagnosis, sedentary, on stable de- mentia or mood medications, and not a current mind-body practi- tioner. Primary outcomes include cognitive functioning, mood, and daily living skills. Results: We had contact with 137 potential participants over 20 months. Twenty-four individuals were random- ized, reflecting an 18% enrollment rate. Best recruitment sources were physician referral and mailings to former patients. Most com- mon reasons for not enrolling included lack of interest, transporta- tion problems, not sedentary, and no MCI. The recruited sample was 70.92 years old (SD ¼ 6.15), 58% female, and 96% white. Of those who have completed 12 weeks of participation (n¼ 17), 76% attended 80% or more of the classes, suggesting good engage- ment. Thus far only 4 participants dropped out of the study. Conclu- sions: Recruitment for a yoga clinical trial is challenging, but feasible. Completion and adherence rates are high. Future trials should address practical barriers to participation and strategies to enhance recruitment of individuals with diverse backgrounds. P2-537 THE BRAIN HEALTH CHAMPION STUDY: PROMOTING NONPHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH COGNITIVE DISORDERS Seth A. Gale 1,2 , Hope E. M. Schwartz 1,2 , Nicole C. Feng 1,2 , Kirk R. Daffner 1,2 , 1 Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; 2 Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Contact e-mail: hschwartz2@bwh.harvard.edu Background: Although dementia specialists often advise patients to adopt healthy lifestyles, the current standard of care does not sys- tematically promote or monitor adherence to recommendations for brain health. More immediate medical and neuropsychiatric is- sues commonly become the focus of attention during follow-up visits for these challenging patients. Encouraging brain-healthy lifestyle changes is particularly relevant in the absence of dis- ease-modifying pharmacological treatments for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. The current study aims to inves- tigate novel and potentially scalable ways to augment brain-healthy behaviors in patients treated at an academic Alzheimer center. Methods: We are piloting a 6-month, randomized, controlled study measuring the effect of increased patient education and clinical contact on adherence to brain health recommendations. Our target enrollment is 40 patients with subjective cognitive decline, MCI, or early dementia from the Alzheimer Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Subjects and caregivers in the treatment pro- gram work with an additional clinical team member, a “brain health champion” (BHC), setting personalized goals and participating in weekly motivational interviewing phone calls, with additional in- person visits every 6 weeks. Using questionnaires validated in cognitively impaired populations, we are measuring changes in physical activity, dietary pattern, and social and cognitive engage- ment. Secondary outcomes include cognitive function, neuropsy- chiatric status, quality of life (QOL), and sleep behavior. Additional analyses will examine the effect of biweekly “booster” sessions on sustaining brain-healthy changes following the primary intervention period. Results: To date, 38 subjects have enrolled in the study, and we anticipate finishing data collection and analysis by Summer 2018. Nine subjects have completed the 6-month pro- tocol. Preliminary results suggest increases in physical and cogni- tive activity levels and QOL measures for participants in the BHC program relative to subjects receiving standard care. Subjects also report greater awareness of, and adherence to, the Mediterra- nean-style diet. Improvements appear to be driven by enrollment in organized group exercise classes and personal training, as well as increased engagement in community-based cognitive and social activities. Conclusions: If the BHC pilot study continues to yield promising results, it would provide a potential model for actively promoting brain health in MCI and dementia clinical care. P2-538 VALIDITY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SCALE FOR THE ELDERLY AMONG PEOPLE WITH MCI OR MILD DEMENTIA Laura E. Middleton 1 , Sandra E. Black 2 , Nathan Herrmann 3 , Paul I. Oh 4 , Lauren Bechard 1 , Laura Middleton 1 , Krista L. Lanctot 3 , 1 University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada; 2 Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 3 Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; 4 Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada. Contact e-mail: laura.middleton@uwaterloo.ca Background: The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) is one of the more common physical activity questionnaires used to report physical activity levels of older adults, and is used among older adults with cognitive impairment. It has been validated against energy expenditure and accelerometer measures of physical activity among a variety of groups. However, it has not been vali- dated for use among people with mild cognitive impairment Poster Presentations: Monday, July 23, 2018 P942