Prevention of dementia using mobile phone applications (PRODEMOS): a multinational, randomised, controlled...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gerontology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Dementia prevalence is rising globally, disproportionately affecting low-income countries and low socioeconomic status individuals.
• Underserved populations face a higher burden of dementia risk factors.
• Mobile health (mHealth) interventions offer a potential solution for reaching high-risk groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of a coach-supported mHealth intervention in reducing dementia risk factors.
• To assess the implementation outcomes of the mHealth intervention in diverse populations.
• To evaluate the intervention's impact on cardiovascular risk factors, ageing, and dementia risk score (CAIDE).

Main Methods:

• An open-label, blinded endpoint, hybrid effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial (RCT).
• Participants aged 55-75 with at least two dementia risk factors were recruited from the UK (low socioeconomic status) and China.
• The primary outcome was the change in CAIDE risk score over 12-18 months, with mixed-methods assessment of implementation outcomes.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed a modest improvement in the mean CAIDE score (-0.16 points) compared to the control group (-0.01 points).
• 81% of intervention participants adopted the intervention, and 50% maintained active participation.
• The intervention was perceived as appropriate and acceptable, with good fidelity and feasibility, at a low cost.

Conclusions:

• A coach-supported mHealth intervention demonstrates modest effectiveness in reducing dementia risk factors in targeted populations.
• Implementation challenges exist but can be overcome with active participant engagement.
• Further large-scale RCTs with longer follow-up are needed to confirm cognitive decline and dementia reduction.