Primary prevention of Alzheimer's disease: Evaluation of a modified brain health promotion program in a continuing care retirement community

Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects millions of people in the US and its prevalence is projected to increase. A delay in the onset of AD of only 6 months would have major public health implications. With emerging research suggesting that AD may have a vascular basis, primary prevention becomes not only possible but an imperative. Though the body of literature is young, healthy lifestyle behaviors may be an effective strategy for the prevention of AD. This presentation will describe a brain health promotion program based on the Maintain Your Brain workshop (Alzheimer's Association),modified to include the most recent literature on the topic. The Transtheoretical Model is used to frame the intervention and the evaluation. The target population includes independent-living adults in a continuing care retirement community. Program goals are: 1) to increase participant's knowledge on AD prevention strategies 2) to improve participant's self-efficacy toward preventive measures for dementia, and 3) to demonstrate participant's progression through the Stages of Change. The long-term aim of program is to decrease the prevalence of dementia through adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors. Findings to be reported include process and summative evaluation of the program. The use of group sessions to provide education as well as demonstrate healthy lifestyle behaviors may be a vital strategy for the prevention of AD. Programs that capitalize on public motivation, such as ways to reduce risk of AD offer opportunities for health professionals to engage healthy seniors as partners in primary prevention.