This study will recruit participants at risk for dementia to participate in an online educational program called Brain Health PRO (BHPro). The BHPro intervention is designed to address modifiable risk factors for dementia through a 6-month, fully online, educational program conveying the best available evidence for lifestyle changes that can mitigate dementia risk, and foster engagement toward one's own brain health. Achieving lifestyle changes in a diverse Canadian population through online education would be a major achievement in dementia prevention in Canada, with widespread personal and socioeconomic benefits. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either start Brain Health PRO immediately or in 6 months (delayed-start control group). All participants will have the opportunity to have access to BHPro for 6 months during the course of the study and will have open access to all content for 12 months following the initial 6-month intervention. Participation will last from 18-24 months depending on group assignment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
700
Immediate start of 6-month Brain Health PRO Intervention
Delayed start of 6-month Brain Health PRO
University of British Colubmia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Change in modifiable risk factors as measured by a 7-item composite dementia risk factor score after 6 months.
The primary outcome is the change in a composite modifiable risk score comprised of the following 7 lifestyle risk questionnaires: Physical Activity, Nutrition, Sleep, Cognitive Engagement, Social and Psychological Health, Vascular Heatlh, and Vision and Hearing (each questionnaire is individually described under the secondary outcomes). Scores for each risk factor will be standardized (z-score transformation using cohort-wide mean and standard deviation at baseline). When necessary, scores will be multiplied by -1 so that positive scores reflect lower risk (e.g., greater engagement in physical activity). The participant-level mean risk score will be calculated which reflects the average z-score for the participant across the modifiable risk factors.
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6
Change in individual modifiable risk factors as measured separately by each of the 7 BHPro Lifestyle Risk Questionnaires after 6 months: Physical Activity
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form is a brief 7-item self-report measure that captures types of and intensity of physical activity and sitting time. The total score is calculated by summing the accrued number of points assigned per question. The total score ranges between 0-9, with a higher score indicating more physical activity.
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6
Change in individual modifiable risk factors as measured separately by each of the 7 BHPro Lifestyle Risk Questionnaires after 6 months: Nutrition
Shorter 11-item version of the Eating Pattern Self-Assessment Questionnaire developed by CCNA Team 5. The total score is calculated by calculating the accrued number of points assigned per question. The total score ranges between 0 and 22, with a higher score indicating more healthy eating habits.
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6
Change in individual modifiable risk factors as measured separately by each of the 7 BHPro Lifestyle Risk Questionnaires after 6 months: Sleep
Brief 10-item questionnaire developed by BHPro sleep module content leads that assesses sleep duration, sleep patterns, and difficulties and daytime fatigue over the past 3 months. The total score is calculated by summing the accrued number of points assigned per question. The total score ranges between 1 and 20, with a higher score indicating healthier sleep.
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6
Change in individual modifiable risk factors as measured separately by each of the 7 BHPro Lifestyle Risk Questionnaires after 6 months: Cognitive Engagement
A 6-item questionnaire assessing types and duration of cognitively engaging activities. The total score is calculated by summing the accrued number of points assigned per question. The total score ranges between 0 and 36, with a higher score indicating more cognitively stimulating activities.
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6
Change in individual modifiable risk factors as measured separately by each of the 7 BHPro Lifestyle Risk Questionnaires after 6 months: Social and Psychological Health
An 8-item questionnaire comprising 1 item on loneliness, 1 item on ageism, 1 item on subjective age, 1 item on essentialist beliefs of aging and 4 items on depression, anxiety, stress, and social support from STOP-D. The total score is calculated by summing the accrued number of points assigned per question. The total score ranges between -1 and 50, with a higher score indicating poorer social and psychological health.
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6
Change in individual modifiable risk factors as measured separately by each of the 7 BHPro Lifestyle Risk Questionnaires after 6 months: Vascular Health
12-item self-report questionnaire developed by the BHPro Vascular Health team based on the American Heart Association's Life's Simple Seven checklist of the main risk factors for heart disease and stroke. The total score is calculated by summing the accrued number of points assigned per question. The total score ranges between -4 and 8, with a higher score indicating better vascular health.
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6
Change in individual modifiable risk factors as measured separately by each of the 7 BHPro Lifestyle Risk Questionnaires after 6 months: Vision and Hearing
10-item questionnaire developed by BHSP Vision and Hearing Module content leads that assesses perceived visual and auditory ability and actions taken to address potential vision/hearing difficulties. The total score is calculated by summing the accrued number of points assigned per question. If a user selects "Yes" for example, they receive 2 points for that question. The total score ranges between 0 and 20 points, with a higher score indicating poorer vision and hearing.
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6
Change in self-efficacy as measured by the General Self-Efficacy Scale after 6 months.
Change in self-efficacy following participation in the study, as measured by the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE). The GSE measures perceived competence in dealing with a range of stressful or challenging situations. This self-report questionnaire contains 10-items, each rated on a 4-point scale (not true at all, hardly true, moderately true, exactly true). The total score is the sum of the scores for the 10 items, which is quantitative and ranges from 10-40, with a higher score indicating more self-efficacy.
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6
Change in dementia literacy as measured by the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale after 6 months.
Change in dementia literacy following participation in the study, as measured by the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS). The ADKS is designed to assess knowledge about Alzheimer's Disease (AD) among laypeople, patients, caregivers, and professionals. This self-report questionnaire contains 30 true/false items. The total score is the sum of the scores from the 30 items, which is quantitative and ranges from 0-30, with a higher score indicating better knowledge about AD.
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6.
Change in cognition as measured by the Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment after 6 months.
The Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment (BHA) is a self-administered validated computerized cognitive assessment comprised of four tests (Spatial Working Memory, Stroop Interference, Face-Name Association, and Number-Letter Alternation). The overall Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment score ranges from 0-100 with a higher score indicating better cognition.
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6
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