The diffusion of dementia risk education

Interpersonal Communication May Improve Equity in Dementia Risk Education

ISSUE ADDRESSED

Encouraging people to adopt life-long habits that reduce dementia risk is necessary to manage the growing global prevalence of this condition and is, therefore, a global health priority. Current initiatives promoting risk-reducing behaviour primarily attract participants from a limited range of backgrounds, even if widely available. This may inadvertently increase health inequities, as the people who are most likely to develop dementia are the people who are least involved in risk-reduction initiatives. Interpersonal communication can effectively disseminate health messages to demographically diverse populations and may therefore broaden the reach of dementia risk reduction information.

METHODS

Coding reliability thematic analysis was used to categorise reports of information sharing provided by participants from one global online dementia risk education initiative, the [course - name removed for blinding]. These reports of information sharing were provided in response to the feedback question: "If you have already applied your [course] learning, please tell us how".

RESULTS

Information was reportedly shared with a wide range of people, including those from demographic groups that are under-represented among [course] participants. Information about specific risk factors was shared, along with general information about the course and/or dementia risk reduction. Some participants also reported that the people they shared information with were initiating risk-reducing behaviours.

CONCLUSION

Interpersonal communication has the potential to disseminate dementia risk reduction information to, and promote behaviour change among, a broad group of people at risk of dementia, thereby increasing equity in dementia risk education.

Island Study Linking Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease (ISLAND) Targeting Dementia Risk Reduction: Protocol for a Prospective Web-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Up to 40% of incident dementia is considered attributable to behavioral and lifestyle factors. Given the current lack of medical treatments and the projected increase in dementia prevalence, a focus on prevention through risk reduction is needed.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to increase dementia risk knowledge and promote changes in dementia risk behaviors at individual and population levels.

METHODS

The Island Study Linking Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease (ISLAND) is a long-term prospective, web-based cohort study with nested interventions that will be conducted over a 10-year period. Target participants (n=10,000) reside in Tasmania and are aged 50 years or over. Survey data on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to modifiable dementia risk factors will be collected annually. After each survey wave, participants will be provided with a personalized dementia risk profile containing guidelines for reducing risk across 9 behavioral and lifestyle domains and with opportunities to engage in educational and behavioral interventions targeting risk reduction. Survey data will be modeled longitudinally with intervention engagement indices, cognitive function indices, and blood-based biomarkers, to measure change in risk over time.

RESULTS

In the initial 12 months (October 2019 to October 2020), 6410 participants have provided baseline data. The study is ongoing.

CONCLUSIONS

Recruitment targets are feasible and efforts are ongoing to achieve a representative sample. Findings will inform future public health dementia risk reduction initiatives by showing whether, when, and how dementia risk can be lowered through educational and behavioral interventions, delivered in an uncontrolled real-world context.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/34688.