Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42090118›Full record

ArticleJournal of behavioral medicine2026

"Balanced Brain": development, implementation, and acceptability of an acceptance and commitment therapy-based pilot intervention to promote brain health in older veterans.

Carter H Davis, Jas Chok, Namasvi Jariwala, Lynsay M Paiko, Lawrence Ma, Marika B Humber, Sherry A Beaudreau, Christine E Gould

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of behavioral medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Carter H DavisGeriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA. cdavphd@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-7970-5502
Jas ChokDepartment of Psychology, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Namasvi JariwalaDepartment of Psychology, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Lynsay M PaikoGeriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Lawrence MaGeriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Marika B HumberGeriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Sherry A BeaudreauSierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, USA.
Christine E GouldGeriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

Funding

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Brain health encompasses a multitude of health and lifestyle factors that can reduce the occurrence and severity of dementia. Older Veterans face unique risk factors for dementia, which makes promoting brain health a priority for the Veteran Health Administration (VHA). However, Veterans encounter barriers to implementing these recommendations, such as uncertainty about where to start, minimal personal investment, lack of social support, or negative emotional reactions to cognitive changes. We explain how principles from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can address these barriers and facilitate personal engagement with brain health, and describe a group ACT intervention called Balanced Brain. We used a mixed-method, multiphase approach using clinician interviews to develop and refine the intervention, followed by pilot testing to determine feasibility and acceptability with older Veterans. Six VHA clinicians described barriers and facilitators to brain health promotion and suggested content to include in an intervention. We then recruited 21 Veterans into two group cohorts, collected data on feasibility and attrition, and assessed program satisfaction using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8. Over three-quarters of Veterans attended 75% or more of group sessions, although telehealth connectivity issues were common. Veterans indicated high overall satisfaction with Balanced Brain, suggesting it as a feasible and acceptable intervention for teaching brain health principles alongside ACT coping skills to address psychosocial barriers to health behavior change.

Indexed as

Acceptance and commitment therapyBrain healthTelehealthVeterans

Identifiers

PMID42090118

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.