CogCoach-Brain
Join this clinical trial to discover how healthy lifestyle changes can reduce dementia risk in older adults and benefit communities across Australia.
About
What is CogCoach-Brain
CogCoach-Brain is part of a research initiative led by Professor Kaarin Anstey and her team at UNSW, focused on promoting healthy brain ageing. Our work and this clinical trial combines the latest scientific evidence with practical strategies to help people maintain cognitive health and wellbeing across life. Through our research programs and digital tools, we aim to make brain health knowledge accessible and actionable for everyone.
How it will work
The CogCoach-Brain study is completely online and works on a computer or tablet. Participants are randomly placed into one of two groups.
The two groups are:
CogCoach-Brain Program group
- An interactive online program on brain health and reducing dementia risk.
- Free personalised consultations with a dietitian and an exercise physiologist.
Health Education group
- An online program with practical tips and educational resources on brain health.
What to expect
All participants will complete short assessments online or by phone before starting and at four follow-up points over two years. These include:
- questions about your lifestyle, memory and thinking
- occasional tasks throughout the study period.
Why we’re doing this
Our goal is to test the effectiveness of the CogCoach-Brain program for older adults who notice changes in memory but do not have significant cognitive impairment. We aim to create a practical, evidence-based resource that supports brain health and can be accessed by the wider community.
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 (subjective cognitive decline or SCD), or have you been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?
You may be eligible to join our online study if you're:
60 years of age or older
- experiencing changes in memory or thinking (subjective cognitive decline (SCD), or a diagnosis of mild cognitive disorder (MCI)
- able to read, write and communicate in English to a comfortable level
experiencing at least one of the following risk factors: insufficient physical activity, poor diet or low levels of cognitive engagement
- willing to complete an online course, lifestyle factor questionnaires and interviews over phone/video call with ability to connect to the internet
not currently diagnosed with psychiatric or neurological disorders (other than MCI)
able to nominate a friend, family or carer who is willing to provide information about your memory, thinking and your everyday behaviour at the beginning and the end of the study.
Optional: Willingness to provide a blood sample for biomarker testing. Taking part in the biomarker testing is completely optional. You can still join the main CogCoach Brain program even if you choose not to provide a blood sample.
Learn more about biomarkers and how they are used in this study.
The study is online, so you can participate from anywhere in Australia using a computer or tablet with internet access.
Project team
- Principal Investigator
- Chief Investigator
- Research team
Collaborating institutions
FAQs
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Our goal is to test how effective CogCoach Brain is for older adults who notice changes in memory or thinking but do not have significant cognitive impairment. We also aim to create a practical, evidence-based tool that can help support brain health and reduce dementia risk in communities.
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Participants complete an online program and short assessments about lifestyle, memory, and thinking. The study lasts 12 weeks for the main program, with four follow-up sessions over two years.
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While we cannot guarantee specific outcomes, possible benefits include:
- Improved memory and thinking skills
- Better overall wellbeing
- Positive lifestyle changes
By participating, you’ll also help researchers develop tools to support brain health in wider communities.
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You may be eligible if you:
- Have noticed changes in memory or thinking, or have mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
- Are 60 years or older
- Have at least one dementia risk factor (e.g., low physical activity, poor diet, or limited mental engagement)
- Can read, write, and communicate in English comfortably
- Are willing to complete the online program, questionnaires, and phone/video interviews
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You can express your interest by completing our online form. A member of the research team will contact you within 1–2 weeks to provide more information, answer your questions, and check if the study is a good fit.
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After expressing interest, the research team will contact you to explain the study and answer questions. If you choose to continue, you’ll sign a consent form and complete a short eligibility screening. Eligible participants are then randomly allocated (by chance) to one of two groups:
CogCoach Brain Intervention Group
- Interactive online program on brain health and reducing dementia risk
- Free personalised consultations with a dietitian and an exercise physiologist
Health Education Control Group
- Online program with practical tips and educational resources on brain health
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No. Participation is completely voluntary and you can withdraw at any time without affecting your relationship with UNSW Sydney or other study partners.
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Biomarkers are measurable substances in the body that reflect how organs and systems are functioning. In brain health research, biomarkers can show early signs of brain changes long before symptoms appear.
In this study, biomarkers are measured from fasting blood samples collected from a selected group of participants. These samples are analysed for:
- Alzheimer’s disease–related proteins (Aβ42/40, P-tau217, APOE ε4)
- Brain cell and nerve health markers (neurofilament light chain, glial fibrillary acidic protein)
- General health indicators such as blood sugar, cholesterol, inflammation, vitamin D, and liver function
Samples are collected at the beginning of the study and again after 27 months to help researchers see how these measures may change over time.
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By studying both lifestyle and biological data, researchers can better understand how everyday habits influence brain health.
Your contribution helps build evidence for practical, science-based ways to lower dementia risk in the community.
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You may choose to provide a blood sample as part of this study. Taking part in the blood collection is completely optional and requires separate consent. These samples help researchers understand how different biological factors are linked to brain health and dementia risk.
The tests may include measures of:
- Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers (Aβ42/40, P-tau217, APOE ε4)
- Brain and nerve health markers (neurofilament light chain, glial fibrillary acidic protein)
- General health indicators such as blood sugar (HbA1c, glucose), cholesterol (HDL, LDL, triglycerides), inflammation, liver function, vitamin D, and blood cell counts
Participation in the biomarker testing is optional, and only a selected group (about 250 participants) will be invited. You can still take part in the main study even if you choose not to provide a blood sample.
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If you're selected and agree to take part in the biomarker testing, fasting blood samples will be collected at the start of the study (baseline) and again after 27 months after the initial blood collection.
These collections follow standard clinical procedures and are designed to monitor changes in biological markers over time.
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 Brain & Healthed
Help us share CogCoach-Brain 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-Brain, please complete the form.
Would you like to refer a patient to CogCoach-Brain?
Refer a patient to CogCoach-Brain 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.RG232455).
The study has been approved by the UNSW Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: iRECS8670).
