Abstract Body

Background and purpose Up to 40% of dementia cases may be attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors, suggesting dementia may be delayed or prevented by adequately acting these risk factors. Mobile Health (mHealth) may improve accessibility to prevention strategies in hard-to-reach populations, where the expected rise of dementia prevalence is largest. We will investigate the effectiveness and implementation of a coach-supported mHealth intervention to reduce the risk of dementia by targeting dementia risk factors.

Methods The PRODEMOS RCT has an effectiveness-implementation hybrid design, taking place in the United Kingdom (UK) and China. Eligibility criteria are: 55-75 years, low SES (UK) or from the general population (China), ≥2 dementia risk factors, own a smartphone. Overall, 2400 participants will be randomised to either a coach-supported, interactive mHealth platform, facilitating self-management of dementia risk factors, or to a static control platform. The intervention and follow-up period are 18 months. The primary effectiveness outcome is change on the CAIDE dementia risk score. Implementation outcomes include acceptability, adoption, feasibility, and sustainability of the intervention.

Results The design of the mHealth platform has been informed by qualitative studies with the target population in the UK and China, existing literature, and the concepts of the Healthy Ageing Through Internet Counseling in the Elderly (HATICE) platform, and has been tested in a pilot study in both countries.

Conclusions The current study, targeting populations with a high dementia risk and poor access to preventive care, will provide insight in the implementation potential and effectiveness of a coach-supported mHealth intervention to reduce the risk of dementia.