Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• Primary Care Providers (PCPs) are vital for early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).
• Resource and time limitations in primary care hinder timely detection and intervention for cognitive decline.
• Scalable models are needed to identify at-risk individuals, notify them, and connect them to care pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-develop a patient-centered messaging strategy for identifying individuals at elevated risk for cognitive impairment.
• To assess patient interest in connecting with a Brain Health Navigator for evaluation and support.
• To improve early detection and engagement in care for cognitive health within primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• Employed a user-centered design approach with primary care patients.
• Engaged patients in co-developing messaging for cognitive impairment outreach.
• Assessed patient preferences for message content, timing, and clarity regarding brain health navigators.

Main Results:

• Patient feedback emphasized the importance of PCP recognition in outreach messages.
• Timely outreach, aligned with appointments, and clear explanations of purpose were preferred.
• Key themes identified critical factors for patient willingness to engage with brain health messaging.

Conclusions:

• User-centered design is effective for creating patient engagement strategies in brain health.
• This approach supports the development of scalable, technology-driven outreach for early detection of cognitive issues.
• Enhanced patient engagement facilitates timely evaluation and intervention for cognitive decline in primary care.