Cognitive health promotion through a low-intensity high-volume webinar intervention for older adults at risk of future dementia

IntroductionMild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects 1 in 10 older adults and is a significant risk factor for dementia, a condition impacting over 63 million people worldwide. Despite the growing need for dementia prevention care, resources to empower individuals with MCI/cognitive decline and their...

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Main Authors: Keera N. Fishman, Christopher Pilieci, Linda Truong, Gillian Rowe, Renee Climans, Iris Yusupov Rose, Kelly J. Murphy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1613890/full
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author Keera N. Fishman
Keera N. Fishman
Christopher Pilieci
Linda Truong
Gillian Rowe
Renee Climans
Iris Yusupov Rose
Kelly J. Murphy
Kelly J. Murphy
author_facet Keera N. Fishman
Keera N. Fishman
Christopher Pilieci
Linda Truong
Gillian Rowe
Renee Climans
Iris Yusupov Rose
Kelly J. Murphy
Kelly J. Murphy
author_sort Keera N. Fishman
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionMild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects 1 in 10 older adults and is a significant risk factor for dementia, a condition impacting over 63 million people worldwide. Despite the growing need for dementia prevention care, resources to empower individuals with MCI/cognitive decline and their families remain limited. The Learning the Ropes Foundations© webinar was developed to provide a free, evidence-based, and accessible low-volume, high-intensity intervention to support brain health.MethodsBetween January and December 2024, 78 participants with cognitive decline (99% >60 years, 58% women) and 30 family members of those with cognitive decline (97% >50 years, 57% women) completed a survey assessing the webinar’s usability, satisfaction, and ability to motivate behavior change. One-month following webinar completion, 19 participants with cognitive decline completed a follow-up survey assessing their implementation of behavior changes. Surveys included Likert-scale and open-ended questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsAmong survey respondents, 82% of participants with cognitive decline and 97% of family agreed they could apply the information to their everyday lives, 81% of participants with cognitive decline and 100% of family agreed they would recommend the webinar, and 90% of all participants reported being motivated to adopt at least one behavior change. Of the one-month follow-up participants, 74% reported implementing at least one behavior change.DiscussionThe Learning the Ropes Foundations© webinar shows strong potential as a user-friendly resource that supports usability, satisfaction, and motivation for behavior change among individuals with MCI/cognitive decline and their families. Future directions include expanding reach and evaluating long-term lifestyle impacts.
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spelling doaj-art-12baace4c6d34213a89346b2d70bb37e2025-08-20T03:41:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-08-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.16138901613890Cognitive health promotion through a low-intensity high-volume webinar intervention for older adults at risk of future dementiaKeera N. Fishman0Keera N. Fishman1Christopher Pilieci2Linda Truong3Gillian Rowe4Renee Climans5Iris Yusupov Rose6Kelly J. Murphy7Kelly J. Murphy8Neuropsychology and Cognitive Health, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, ON, CanadaOntario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Whitby, ON, CanadaKunin-Lunenfeld Centre for Applied Research and Evaluation, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, ON, CanadaKunin-Lunenfeld Centre for Applied Research and Evaluation, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, ON, CanadaNeuropsychology and Cognitive Health, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, ON, CanadaNeuropsychology and Cognitive Health, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, ON, CanadaNeuropsychology and Cognitive Health, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, ON, CanadaNeuropsychology and Cognitive Health, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, ON, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaIntroductionMild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects 1 in 10 older adults and is a significant risk factor for dementia, a condition impacting over 63 million people worldwide. Despite the growing need for dementia prevention care, resources to empower individuals with MCI/cognitive decline and their families remain limited. The Learning the Ropes Foundations© webinar was developed to provide a free, evidence-based, and accessible low-volume, high-intensity intervention to support brain health.MethodsBetween January and December 2024, 78 participants with cognitive decline (99% >60 years, 58% women) and 30 family members of those with cognitive decline (97% >50 years, 57% women) completed a survey assessing the webinar’s usability, satisfaction, and ability to motivate behavior change. One-month following webinar completion, 19 participants with cognitive decline completed a follow-up survey assessing their implementation of behavior changes. Surveys included Likert-scale and open-ended questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsAmong survey respondents, 82% of participants with cognitive decline and 97% of family agreed they could apply the information to their everyday lives, 81% of participants with cognitive decline and 100% of family agreed they would recommend the webinar, and 90% of all participants reported being motivated to adopt at least one behavior change. Of the one-month follow-up participants, 74% reported implementing at least one behavior change.DiscussionThe Learning the Ropes Foundations© webinar shows strong potential as a user-friendly resource that supports usability, satisfaction, and motivation for behavior change among individuals with MCI/cognitive decline and their families. Future directions include expanding reach and evaluating long-term lifestyle impacts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1613890/fullmemory declinecognitive declineolder adultswebinar interventionaging and technologypsychoeducation
spellingShingle Keera N. Fishman
Keera N. Fishman
Christopher Pilieci
Linda Truong
Gillian Rowe
Renee Climans
Iris Yusupov Rose
Kelly J. Murphy
Kelly J. Murphy
Cognitive health promotion through a low-intensity high-volume webinar intervention for older adults at risk of future dementia
Frontiers in Psychology
memory decline
cognitive decline
older adults
webinar intervention
aging and technology
psychoeducation
title Cognitive health promotion through a low-intensity high-volume webinar intervention for older adults at risk of future dementia
title_full Cognitive health promotion through a low-intensity high-volume webinar intervention for older adults at risk of future dementia
title_fullStr Cognitive health promotion through a low-intensity high-volume webinar intervention for older adults at risk of future dementia
title_full_unstemmed Cognitive health promotion through a low-intensity high-volume webinar intervention for older adults at risk of future dementia
title_short Cognitive health promotion through a low-intensity high-volume webinar intervention for older adults at risk of future dementia
title_sort cognitive health promotion through a low intensity high volume webinar intervention for older adults at risk of future dementia
topic memory decline
cognitive decline
older adults
webinar intervention
aging and technology
psychoeducation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1613890/full
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