JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

There is a need to develop interventions to reduce risk of dementia in the community by addressing lifestyle factors and chronic disease over the adult life-course.

Objective:

We evaluated a multi-domain dementia risk-reduction intervention Body Brain Life in General Practice (BBL-GP) targeting at-risk adults in primary care.

Methods:

A pragmatic, parallel, three-arm randomized trial involving 125 adults aged 18+, (69% female) with body mass index ≥25kg/m2 or a chronic health condition recruited from general practices was conducted. The arms included BBL-GP, an internet-based intervention augmented with in-person diet and physical activity consultation; a single clinician-led, group Lifestyle Modification Programme (LMP); and an internet-based control. Primary outcome was the ANU-Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Index Short-Form (ANU-ADRI-SF).

Results:

Baseline assessments were conducted on 128 participants. 125 participants were randomized to groups (BBL-GP = 42, LMP = 41, control = 42). At immediate, week 18, week 36 and week 62 follows, completion rates were 43%, 57%, 48% and 48% for the BBL-GP group, 71%, 68%, 68% and 51% for the LMP group and 62%, 69%, 60% and 60% for the control group. The primary outcome of ANU-ADRI-SF score was lower for BBL-GP relative to the control group at all follow-ups. These comparisons were all significant at the 5% level for estimates adjusted for baseline differences (immediate: difference in means -3.86, (95%CI:-6.81,-0.90), P = .010; Week 18:difference in means -4.05, (95%CI:-6.81,-1.28), P < .001; Week 36:difference in means -4.99, (95%CI:-8.04,-1.94), P < .001; Week 62:difference in means -4.62, (95%C: -7.62,-1.62), P < .001).

Conclusions:

An internet-based multi-domain dementia risk reduction program augmented with allied health consultations administered within the general practice context can reduce dementia risk exposure for at least 15 months. Clinical Trial: ACTRN12616000868482