CogCoach-Health
Help us explore the effectiveness of modifying lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease in older adults who are at risk of developing dementia.
About
What is CogCoach-Health
CogCoach-Health is a research study testing new ways to support healthy brain ageing through lifestyle changes such as physical activity, healthy eating, memory strategies, and social and cognitive engagement.
How it will work
The study is conducted entirely online and can be accessed on a computer or tablet. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups:
- Group 1
E-learning program with professional support. - Group 2
Receives regular information about brain health and dementia risk reduction.
What to expect
All participants complete online or phone assessments before starting and at three additional points over 15 months. These involve questions about lifestyle as well as memory and thinking tasks.
Why we’re doing this
Our aim is to test the effectiveness of CogCoach-Health in older adults who notice changes in their memory but do not have significant cognitive impairment and to develop a practical, evidence-based dementia risk reduction resource for general practitioners.
Join the study
Discover how simple lifestyle changes could support healthy brain ageing and help us develop tools that could benefit communities more widely.
Are you experiencing changes in memory or thinking, or have you been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?
You may be eligible to join our online study if you meet the following requirements
You can participate in the study if you:
- Have noticed changes in your memory or thinking or have been diagnosed with ‘mild cognitive impairment’ (MCI).
- Are 65 years of age or older.
- Have at least one dementia risk factor such as insufficient physical activity, poor diet or low levels of cognitive engagement.
- Can read, write and communicate in English to a comfortable level.
- Are willing to complete an online course, lifestyle factor questionnaires and interviews over phone/videocall.
- Can nominate a friend, family or carer who is willing to provide information about your memory and thinking and your everyday behaviour at the beginning and the end of the study.
The study is conducted online and you can join from anywhere in Australia, provided you have a computer or tablet and the ability to connect to the internet.
Project team
- Principal Investigator
- Chief Investigators
- Research team
Collaborating institutions
FAQs
-
Our aim is to test the effectiveness of CogCoach-Health in older adults who experience subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but do not yet have significant cognitive impairment. Our goal is for CogCoach-Health to become a useful and time saving evidence-based dementia risk reduction resource for general practitioners.
-
If you are interested in taking part, you will first complete a short screening to check if the study is a good match for you. Eligible participants are then randomly assigned to one of two groups. To keep the research fair and unbiased, this is done by chance (like pulling names from a hat).
Depending on the group you are assigned to, you will either take part in an e-learning program with professional support or receive regular email information about brain health and dementia risk reduction (more information about each group will be provided upon study enrolment).
All participants complete one baseline session before starting, and three follow-up sessions at 12 weeks, 9 months, and 15 months. These sessions involve answering questions about lifestyle and completing short memory and thinking tasks.
-
We cannot guarantee or promise that you will receive any benefits from this research; however, possible benefits may include improved cognition, well-being and other positive lifestyle factor outcomes. You will also be contributing to research that aims to prevent cognitive decline and promote healthier brain ageing in the long-term.
-
You can participate in the study if you:
- Have noticed changes in your memory or thinking or have been diagnosed with ‘mild cognitive impairment’ (MCI).
- Are 65 years of age or older.
- Have at least one dementia risk factor such as insufficient physical activity, poor diet or low levels of cognitive engagement.
- Can read, write and communicate in English to a comfortable level.
- Are willing to complete an online course, lifestyle factor questionnaires and interviews over phone/videocall.
- Can nominate a friend, family or carer who is willing to provide information about your memory and thinking and your everyday behaviour at the beginning and the end of the study.
-
You can express your interest to join the study by completing the EOI form. A member of our research team will contact you within 1-2 weeks to provide you with more information, answer any questions you may have, and see whether the study is right for you.
-
The research team will contact you via phone to provide you with more information about the study and answer any questions you have. If you would like to continue, you will be required to sign a consent form before completing questions as part of an eligibility screen. This screen will check whether this study is a good match for you.
If you are eligible to participate, you will be randomised into one of two groups: CogCoach-Health Intervention or Email information. To ensure the research is fair and unbiased, the groups are chosen randomly – like pulling names from a hat.
-
If you do consent to participate, you may withdraw at any time. Your decision to withdraw from the study will not affect your relationship with UNSW Sydney or the other collaborators of the study.
Join us now
Join us in discovering how healthy lifestyle changes can reduce dementia risk in older adults and benefit communities across Australia.
For GPs | CogCoach Health & Healthed
Help us share CogCoach-Health with your patients
If you would like to receive study leaflets or flyers for your practice to share with patients who may be interested in CogCoach-Health, please complete the form.
Would you like to refer a patient to CogCoach-Health?
Refer a patient to CogCoach-Health as part of your involvement in Healthed’s continued professional development.
This study is conducted by researchers from UNSW Sydney and is funded by the Medical Research Future Fund through the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (Grant No.RG231312).
The study has been approved by the UNSW Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: iRECS6997).
