Self-Reported Behavior Change and Predictors of Engagement With a Multidomain Brain Health Intervention for Midlife and Older Adults: A Pilot Clinical Trial. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boyd, Brenna; McAlister, Courtney; Arrotta, Kayela; Schmitter-Edgecombe, Maureen
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging and health. Volume 34:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 109
• Page End: 119
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: brain health -- dementia risk factors -- health literacy -- prevention; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1177/08982643211032483
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0898-2643

Abstract

Objectives: This study evaluated the efficacy of a multidomain brain health intervention on health behavior change and sought to understand whether health literacy or brain health knowledge predicted engagement with the intervention. Methods: One-hundred thirty midlife and older adults were assigned to one of three intervention conditions: brain fitness (B-Fit) utilizing education and goal setting, education-only, or waitlist. Questionnaires were completed at baseline and post-intervention. Results: Both B-Fit and education-only conditions reported improvements in health behaviors over time. Although effect size for the education-only condition was moderate, only the B-Fit condition differed significantly in health behaviors from the waitlist post-intervention. Lower baseline brain health knowledge predicted improvements in health behaviors for education-only condition. Discussion: The multidomain brain health intervention was successful in helping participants change their behaviors, but it was not more effective than the education-only condition. For those with lower brain health knowledge, an education-only intervention may be sufficient to encourage behavior change.