Older adults’ perspectives towards optimizing lifestyle behaviors and strategies to support healthy brain ageing during COVID-19 restrictions

Abstract

IntroductionIt is unknown how the impact of COVID-19 restrictions has affected brain healthy behaviors that contribute to dementia risk reduction in older adults. Our aim was to explore perspectives of older adults on lifestyle behaviors that support positive brain health and dementia risk reduction during and following COVID-19 restrictions.MethodsCommunity-dwelling older Australians (N = 159) during June to October 2021 (the second wave of COVID-19 restrictions) who had taken part in a pre-post dementia risk reduction intervention program were invited to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their lifestyle behaviors. Semi-structured interviews explored individual’s adaptability to pandemic restrictions, intended behavior changes following restrictions easing, and feedback on the effectiveness of ongoing intervention programs for sustaining brain health. Thematic data analysis was performed using a deductive approach.ResultsParticipants had an average age of 73.1 years (SD = 5.6; range: 65–90), majority were female (74.7%), lived in a major city (82.2%) and mean 9.5 years (SD = 1.7) of education. Older adults’ views about lifestyle prevention strategies during the pandemic were both positive (e.g., more spare time and adaptive leisure activities) and negative (e.g., social isolation, lack of motivation, adverse emotions). Participants highlighted a continuous conscious effort to adapt certain brain healthy behaviors despite the persistence of adverse impacts of COVID-19 restrictions. Participants also expressed the intention and desire to revert to their previous lifestyle before the COVID-19 pandemic or a sense of the ‘new normal’.ConclusionThis formative research will inform future interventions targeting dementia risk reduction to consider the immediate and lasting effects of COVID-19 restrictions on older adult’s lifestyle behavior.

Acceptability of virtual reality to screen for dementia in older adults

“…Demographics, health status and current technology use questions in this study were adopted from previous national survey studies conducted with older Australians [23][24][25]. The latter questions on appraisal and acceptance of VR technology were further adapted from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) [17] to assess participants' perceptions of technology acceptance and usability according to our study's objectives.…”

“…survey studies [23][24][25], nine questions regarding participants' age, gender, country of birth, marital and employment status, and postcode. Educational attainment was split into low (minimal or no formal education), middle (intermediate levels of education such as secondary education or vocational training) and high attainment (completed tertiary education).…”