The goal of this R21 study is to explore the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of individualized cognitive prescriptions (CogRxs) in improving engagement in healthy behaviors and other outcomes in middle-aged AAs and to gain feedback on future implementation of the program.
A pre-post experimental design will be used, in which 150 AA participants aged 50-65 will complete a baseline assessment of cognitive testing and data-driven assessment of deficiencies across five CogRx domains (physical activity, cognitive activity, diet, sleep, social activity). Participants will be randomized to either: psychoeducation + CogRx, psychoeducation only, or no contact control. The psychoeducation and CogRx groups will receive general psychoeducation on dementia prevalence, prognosis, and risk factors, while the CogRx group will also receive personalized information on their risk factor profile and develop a tailored 3-month intervention plan, which will consist of simple evidence-based strategies to implement at home. Motivational reminders as well as adherence and self-efficacy questions will be administered via text-messaging over the 3-months. Participants will return for 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. Specific Aim 1 (proximal outcomes) is to determine whether the CogRx condition is superior to psychoeducation alone in improving engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviors. Specific Aim 2 (distal outcomes) is to compare the three conditions on a brief battery of cognitive and psychological measures. The Exploratory Aim is to gather feedback for future implementation of this program, including cultural considerations, barriers and facilitators to engagement, and likelihood of continuing the program.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
39
Personalized information on their risk factor profile across five CogRx domains (physical activity, cognitive activity, diet, sleep, social activity) and develop a tailored 3-month intervention plan, which will consist of simple evidence-based strategies to implement at home.
the Holly Mears Building/Center for Research on Applied Gerontology
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Leisure Activities Questionnaire Activities Sum
The full measure is a 30-item survey asking about frequency of activities across 4 domains (cognitive, physical, social, and passive), in which higher scores reflect greater engagement in each type of activity (participants rate on Likert scale how often they perform each activity, 0=never/occasionally to 7=daily). The results below reflect a sum of cognitive, physical, and social activities (19 total activities). The total possible sum range is 0 to 133.
Time frame: change from baseline to 3 months
Dementia Knowledge
Scores on the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS-27) which assesses knowledge about risk factors and prognosis of dementia. Scores include percentage correct for the 27 items, with scores ranging from 0-100%. There are 27 items and each item is scored as correct or incorrect. Therefore the scores include a percentage of total items correct, ranging from 0-100 with higher meaning better knowledge.
Time frame: change from baseline to 3 months
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