JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Dementia prevention through the reduction of modifiable risk factors is gaining attention as a public health strategy. However, public knowledge of dementia risk and protective factors remains low. Web-based education offers a potential solution to raise awareness and promote risk reduction behaviours.

Objective:

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the effectiveness of DementiaRisk.ca, an internet-based multimedia educational intervention, in increasing knowledge of dementia risk factors, intentions to engage in risk reduction behaviours, and changes in health behaviours.

Methods:

A two-arm RCT was conducted with 510 participants (265 in the intervention group and 245 in the control group). Participants were randomized to receive either the e-learning about dementia risk and promoting brain health, which included a multimedia lesson and micro-learning emails, or a control intervention focused on mild cognitive impairment. Outcomes included knowledge of dementia risk factors, intentions to engage in risk reduction, and health behaviours, measured at baseline, 4 weeks, and 2 months post-intervention.

Results:

Both groups showed significant improvements in knowledge, intentions, and health behaviours, with the intervention group having significantly higher gains in knowledge compared to the control group. Participants with lower educational attainment exhibited the largest knowledge gains. Self-reported health behaviours, particularly physical activity, increased significantly among the intervention group.

Conclusions:

An internet-based dementia prevention e-learning program effectively enhanced knowledge and promoted healthy behaviours related to dementia risk reduction. These findings support the use of well-designed e-learning in public health interventions and highlight the potential for online education to contribute to dementia prevention efforts. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05383118; May 18, 2022.