RecruitingInterventional

A blended app and coach support programme to improve brain health

This research is looking for people aged 60-80 years old, living at home, who have at least three of the common risk factors for dementia. These risk factors include things like high blood pressure, not enough exercise, or hearing loss. The study is particularly focused on helping people from ethnic minority and lower-income communities, as they often have a higher risk. Participants will either use a special app with coaching support for 3-6 months or continue with their usual care. The aim is to see if this new program can help people make positive changes to improve their brain health. It's a way to find out if this approach could work on a larger scale to help prevent dementia.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

North London NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

678

Start

28 May 2025

Estimated completion

28 Feb 2028

Dementia

What is this study about?

Dementia is a condition that affects memory, thinking, and daily life, and more and more people in the UK are being diagnosed with it. We know that certain things can increase a person's risk of developing dementia. These include things like not getting enough education, having high blood pressure, hearing problems, smoking, feeling lonely, being overweight, experiencing depression, not being active enough, having diabetes, and drinking too much alcohol.

This study is looking into a new way to help people manage these risk factors. Researchers have developed a special digital app that works alongside personal coaching. This program is designed to help individuals make changes to their lifestyle and health habits that could improve their brain health and potentially lower their dementia risk. The study is especially focused on helping people from communities that often have a higher risk of dementia, such as ethnic minority and lower-income groups.

We will first run a smaller 'pilot' study to see if this app and coaching program is easy to use and if people find it helpful. If this pilot study shows good results, we will then move on to a larger study. This larger study would compare the new program with usual care to see how effective it is and if it's a good use of resources to help more people.

Key takeaways

This study explores a new app and coaching program for brain health.
It's for people aged 60-80 with several dementia risk factors.
Aims to help people make healthy lifestyle changes.
Participants will get an app with coaching or usual care.
Your involvement could help develop future dementia prevention tools.
It is a low-risk study and you can withdraw at any time.

Who may be eligible?

You might be able to join this study if you are aged between 60 and 80 years old and currently live in your own home (not in a care home). You also need to be registered with a GP practice here in the UK.

To take part, you should have at least three of the following conditions or lifestyle factors: high blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight (for those aged 60-75), smoking, drinking more than 21 units of alcohol per week, not doing much physical activity, having stopped formal education before age 14, experiencing symptoms of depression, having little social contact, or having unmanaged hearing loss.

It's also important that you are willing and able to give your informed consent, which means you understand what the study involves and agree to take part. You also need to have some access to a phone, even if you don't own one yourself, to receive a login code for the app.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 60 and 80 years old?
Do you live in your own home (not a care home)?
Are you registered with a GP practice?
Do you have at least 3 of these: high blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight (if 60-75), smoking, heavy drinking, little exercise, less education, depression, low social contact, or unmanaged hearing loss?
Do you have access to a phone?
Are you willing and able to understand and agree to take part?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you are interested and meet the initial requirements, you'll first attend a meeting, usually at your GP practice or a clinic. Here, you'll answer some questions and have some health checks to see if you have three or more of the risk factors we mentioned. If you do, you'll then be randomly placed into one of two groups.

One group will receive the special ENHANCE app and get support from a personal coach for either 3 or 6 months, depending on which part of the study you join. The other group will continue to receive their usual medical care. During the study, you'll have follow-up assessment meetings after 3, 6, and/or 12 months, where the same health checks and questions will be repeated. The coaches will be there to encourage you to make healthy changes and help you use the app. We'll also ask for your thoughts and experiences through interviews to help improve the program.

Potential risks and benefits

By taking part, you might find the ENHANCE app and coaching helpful in making positive changes to your health habits, which could improve your brain health. You'll also be helping researchers develop a new tool that could potentially help many other people reduce their risk of dementia in the future. You will have a coach to support you through the process. The risks of taking part are considered very low. Some people might find the appointments a bit time-consuming or the app a little tricky at first, but we will try to keep appointment times as short as possible, and the coach will help you with the app. Remember, you can choose to leave the study at any time.

Locations (3)

Yorkshire Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
City only
Willerby, United Kingdom
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
City only
Reading, United Kingdom
University College London
Approximate
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is dementia?

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, affecting memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out everyday activities.

What are dementia risk factors?

These are health conditions or lifestyle choices, like high blood pressure, smoking, or not exercising, that have been linked to a higher chance of developing dementia.

Will I have to pay to join the study?

No, participating in this study is completely free of charge. The study is funded by the NIHR.

What is a 'coach' in this study?

A coach is someone who will provide you with personal support and encouragement to help you use the app and make healthy lifestyle changes.

How long will the study last if I join?

The study runs from November 2023 to December 2028. Your personal involvement would be for 3 months (in the initial pilot) or up to 12 months (in the larger study), including follow-up appointments.

How to find out more

James Jamison

james.jamison@ucl.ac.uk +44 (0)2031085740 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.