A Cross-sectional Survey of an Ongoing Public Multimodal Intervention for Cognitive Health for Older Adults in Times of Covid-19
Abstract BackgroundIn recent decades, the proportion of older adults in the population has continued to rise and with it the need for intervention programs to maintain cognitive functions into old age. Multiple lifestyle factors, first and foremost physical, cognitive, and social activities, have been shown to be crucial to forestalling decline in cognitive functions. However, since Covid-19 has curtailed opportunities for such activities, strategies must be designed to support older adults to remain cognitively healthy. MethodsThis study describes a newly developed ongoing publicly available preventive intervention, called brain coach, to support and stimulate cognitive activity in older adults. The intervention consists of weekly recommendations for evidence-based physical, cognitive, social, mindful, and creative activation exercises that can be integrated in daily life. 660 participants participated in an online cross-sectional survey examining experienced benefits and changes in relation to the program.ResultsParticipants reported benefits in memory, well-being, attitudes towards the brain, and lifestyle habits. Importantly, time invested in the intervention as well as some characteristics of participants, such as personality and positive attitude toward brain health, show positive relationships with these experienced benefits. Further research will explore the effects of such a multimodal intervention in a longitudinal randomized controlled trial study.