New trial targets older Australians with memory concerns to prevent dementia

It is a condition that impacts one in five older Australians and is often considered a “transition” stage to dementia, but mild memory loss is now in the spotlight.

A team led by world-leading dementia researcher Professor Kaarin Anstey is hoping to prove early intervention can slow or eliminate the progress of mild memory loss.

Professor Anstey, who is a Professor of Psychology at the University of NSW and Senior Principal Research Scientist at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRa), has been researching factors that impact cognitive decline in ageing and how to combat them for the past 20 years.

She designed the Cognitive Health and Dementia Risk Assessment test, and is now aiming to get people aged 65 and over to sign up to her latest trial, CogCoach-Health.

“CogCoach-Health is targeting people who have persistent concerns about their memory or who have a mild cognitive problem,” Prof Anstey said.

“It’s for people whom we describe as ‘cognitively at risk’ as you are more likely to develop cognitive symptoms over the age of 65,” she said.

“There is no one silver bullet for solving dementia and brain health. We need multiple programs to address different groups of the population at different stages of their life and this is for this group.”

“We know now often people can detect a change before a psychologist can see it,” she said.

“So if they are starting to think there is a problem consistently over time then they are at risk, they are the ones we are trying to reach”.

The 12-month randomised controlled study – which involves a combination of an online course, a brain training package and sessions with allied health consultants – will aim to show a decline in symptoms as people actively tackle lifestyle risk factors such as physical inactivity, poor diet and low social contact.

“It is giving people a lot more support and the people who really need the help,” Professor Anstey said.

“The motivation initially for this was we knew there were people going to their GPs saying ‘I think there’s something wrong with my memory’, and the GP couldn’t find anything wrong with them and there was nothing really to offer them.

“We want it to be something ultimately GPs could offer but we also want it to be that people don’t have to go the medical route – if they are concerned they can contact us directly,” she said.

Dr Marita Long is a GP with a special interest in dementia and in 2024 was appointed as an Honorary Medical Advisor with Dementia Australia.

“Participation in the CogCoach-Health trial has had a positive impact on my clinical practice,” Dr Long told news.com.au.

“It has encouraged more proactive conversations about cognitive health, provided an additional evidence‑based management option, and offered patients a constructive way to participate in dementia risk reduction while also contributing to much needed research,” she said.

“Many patients appreciate being offered CogCoach-Health; it gives them an active role in understanding and reducing dementia risk, and reassures them that their concerns are being taken seriously.”

Dr Long said the program is also a “practical, scalable tool that supports GPs by facilitating earlier conversations about cognition and expanding the options available for ongoing management and monitoring”.

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To find out more about the CogCoach-Health trial click here or to register an expression of interest click here.