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Frontiers in public health
2022;10 962873.

Parallel randomized controlled feasibility trials of the "Active Brains" digital intervention to protect cognitive health in adults aged 60-85.

Rosie Essery, Sebastien Pollet, Katherine Bradbury, Max J Western, Elisabeth Grey, James Denison-Day, Kirsten A Smith, Victoria Hayter, Joanne Kelly, Jane Somerville, Beth Stuart, Taeko Becque, Jin Zhang, Joanna Slodkowska-Barabasz, Fiona Mowbray, Anne Ferrey, Guiqing Yao, Shihua Zhu, Tony Kendrick, Simon Griffin, Nanette Mutrie, Sian Robinson, Helen Brooker, Gareth Griffiths, Louise Robinson, Martin Rossor, Clive Ballard, John Gallacher, Shanaya Rathod, Bernard Gudgin, Rosemary Phillips, Tom Stokes, John Niven, Paul Little, Lucy Yardley
Author Information
  1. Rosie Essery: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  2. Sebastien Pollet: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  3. Katherine Bradbury: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  4. Max J Western: University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.
  5. Elisabeth Grey: University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
  6. James Denison-Day: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  7. Kirsten A Smith: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  8. Victoria Hayter: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  9. Joanne Kelly: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  10. Jane Somerville: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  11. Beth Stuart: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  12. Taeko Becque: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  13. Jin Zhang: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  14. Joanna Slodkowska-Barabasz: Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
  15. Fiona Mowbray: Kings College London, London, United Kingdom.
  16. Anne Ferrey: University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
  17. Guiqing Yao: University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
  18. Shihua Zhu: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  19. Tony Kendrick: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  20. Simon Griffin: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
  21. Nanette Mutrie: University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
  22. Sian Robinson: Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom.
  23. Helen Brooker: University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
  24. Gareth Griffiths: NIHR Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  25. Louise Robinson: Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom.
  26. Martin Rossor: University College London, London, United Kingdom.
  27. Clive Ballard: University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
  28. John Gallacher: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
  29. Shanaya Rathod: Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  30. Bernard Gudgin: Patient and Public Involvement Contributor, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  31. Rosemary Phillips: Patient and Public Involvement Contributor, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  32. Tom Stokes: Patient and Public Involvement Contributor, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  33. John Niven: Patient and Public Involvement Contributor, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  34. Paul Little: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  35. Lucy Yardley: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
PMID: 36203694 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.962873

Abstract

Introduction: Multidomain interventions to address modifiable risk factors for dementia are promising, but require more cost-effective, scalable delivery. This study investigated the feasibility of the "Active Brains" digital behavior change intervention and its trial procedures.
Materials and methods: Active Brains aims to reduce cognitive decline by promoting physical activity, healthy eating, and online cognitive training. We conducted 12-month parallel-design randomized controlled feasibility trials of "Active Brains" amongst "lower cognitive scoring" ( = 180) and "higher cognitive scoring" ( = 180) adults aged 60-85.
Results: We collected 67.2 and 76.1% of our 12-month primary outcome (Baddeley verbal reasoning task) data for the "lower cognitive score" and "higher cognitive score" groups, respectively. Usage of "Active Brains" indicated overall feasibility and satisfactory engagement with the physical activity intervention content (which did not require sustained online engagement), but engagement with online cognitive training was limited. Uptake of the additional brief telephone support appeared to be higher in the "lower cognitive score" trial. Preliminary descriptive trends in the primary outcome data might indicate a protective effect of Active Brains against cognitive decline, but further investigation in fully-powered trials is required to answer this definitively.
Discussion: Whilst initial uptake and engagement with the online intervention was modest, it was in line with typical usage of other digital behavior change interventions, and early indications from the descriptive analysis of the primary outcome and behavioral data suggest that further exploration of the potential protective benefits of Active Brains are warranted. The study also identified minor modifications to procedures, particularly to improve online primary-outcome completion. Further investigation of Active Brains will now seek to determine its efficacy in protecting cognitive performance amongst adults aged 60-85 with varied levels of existing cognitive performance.

Keywords

behavior change cognitive training dementia prevention healthy eating physical activity

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Grants

  1. MR/T033371/1/Medical Research Council
  2. RP-PG-0615-20014/Department of Health

MeSH Term

Brain
Cognition
Cognitive Dysfunction
Exercise
Feasibility Studies
Humans
Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Article has an altmetric score of 5

Word Cloud

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