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The Preventing Dementia Massive Open Online Course results in behaviour change associated with reduced dementia risk: The My INdex of DEmentia Risk (MINDER) study
Author(s) -
Farrow Maree,
Klekociuk Shan Z,
Bindoff Aidan,
Vickers James C
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.046565
Subject(s) - dementia , worry , psychological intervention , medicine , gerontology , population , logistic regression , psychology , psychiatry , disease , environmental health , anxiety
Background Several multi‐domain dementia prevention interventions are being trialled, often involving intensive programs targeting older adults. To reach the wider population at risk of dementia, accessible and scalable interventions are also needed. The Preventing Dementia Massive Open Online Course (PD‐MOOC) aims to build knowledge of dementia risk factors, self‐efficacy in management of modifiable risk factors, and an ability to appraise evidence. Since 2016, the PD‐MOOC has attracted over 99,000 enrolments. Method The My INdex of DEmentia Risk (MINDER) study aimed to investigate the impact of the PD‐MOOC on risk‐related behaviour and dementia worry, and associations between the two. PD‐MOOC participants completed the short form Australian National University Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Index (ANU‐ADRI) and the Dementia Worry Scale at 3 time points: pre‐MOOC (n = 4838), immediately post‐MOOC (n = 2546), and 6 months follow‐up (n = 906). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate the probability of transition from one risk behaviour state (high/intermediate/low risk) to another, based on ANU‐ADRI sub‐scales for the seven modifiable factors assessed. Result At 6 months follow‐up, the probability that participants in the high‐risk state for depressive symptoms at baseline had moved to the low‐risk state was 0.58 (CI: 0.49 – 0.66). Dementia worry was significantly associated with risk state transitions only for depressive symptoms; those more worried were more likely to move from the high‐ to low‐risk state. The probability that heavy alcohol drinkers at baseline transitioned to moderate drinking at follow‐up was 0.49 (CI: 0.33 – 0.64), and the probability that current smokers transitioned to former smokers was 0.15 (CI: 0.05 – 0.23). The probability of moving from the highest risk state at baseline to a lower risk state at follow‐up was 0.36 (CI: 0.11 – 0.70) for social activity, 0.35 (CI: 0.25 – 0.44) for fish consumption, and 0.20 (CI: 0.15 – 0.13) for physical activity, and just 0.02 for cognitive activity. Conclusion These findings suggest the PD‐MOOC provides benefits beyond imparting knowledge and may contribute to self‐efficacy for sustained behaviour change. The PD‐MOOC may be considered an accessible, scalable and effective multi‐domain public health intervention for dementia risk reduction.