RECON - Reducing and preventing Cognitive impairment iN older age groups.
Dementia in the over 65s occurs in 6.5% of the population, and the number will increase with a progressively ageing population. Reduced functioning (‘cognitive impairment’) is more common - including Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Age Associated Cognitive decline (AACD) - and approximately 5% progress to dementia annually. Intensive promotion of lifestyle (diet/physical activity) and cognitive exercises slow cognitive decline but use considerable staff resource.
RECON will investigate the use of a website called ‘Active Brains’ which aims to help older adults to look after their brain and body health by preventing problems with memory, concentration and reasoning which may assist in slowing cognitive decline.
The RECON study aims to evaluate:
A feasibility trial will be conducted initially to examine the study and intervention procedures, and ensure they are feasible for the future planned Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT).
The future planned, fully powered, definitive trial will test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of both Active Brains and Active Brains plus support from a central facilitator, to see if either of these interventions can maintain cognitive function and prevent cognitive decline.
The findings of the feasibility study may be used to make modifications to the study or intervention procedures to ensure the success of the later planned definitive trial.
In both the feasibility and fully powered trials, patients will be randomly allocated to one of three study groups:
The total sample size across both groups will be a minimum of 360 participants for the feasibility trial from two patient populations:
Sponsor: University of Southampton
Chief Investigators: Prof Paul Little & Prof Lucy Yardley