App-Based lifestyle coaching aims to cut dementia risk in older adults
NCT ID NCT04616794
First seen Aug 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 25, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests a coach-assisted mobile app designed to help middle-aged and older adults adopt healthier habits—like being more physically active, eating a Mediterranean diet, and staying mentally engaged—to reduce their risk of dementia. Participants with at least one modifiable risk factor (such as low physical activity or low cognitive engagement) will use the app to set goals and receive tailored guidance. The study will measure whether at least half of participants show meaningful improvements in these lifestyle behaviors by the end of the program.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- A coach-assisted mobile application delivering tailored, multidomain lifestyle interventions (physical activity, diet, cognitive engagement)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this app-based approach could offer a scalable way to help older adults reduce their dementia risk through lifestyle changes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small proof-of-concept study, so results may not generalize. Success depends on participants' adherence, and the app's impact on long-term dementia risk remains uncertain.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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41 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2020
- Finished
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Jan 2021
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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50 to 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Proficient or native speakers in French; * Computer literate; * Committed not to participate in another program related to any of the three intervention domains for the duration of the trial; * At least one of the following: * Low cognitive engagement in cognitively stimulating activities, defined as a score ≤ 15 on the CAQ * Low level of physical activity defined as less than 600 MET-min/week (\~150 minutes/week) of MVPA measured using the IPAQ-SF * Low adherence to the Mediterranean-type diet defined as a score of ≤ 8 on the adapted Canadian MDS Exclusion Criteria * Presence of a cognitive impairment as measured by the Cogstate Brief BatteryTM ; * General anesthesia within the last 6 months; * Participation in any previous validation studies related to the program; * Participation, currently or within the last 6 months, in a program where they received any of the three interventions; * Unable to commit participation over the period of the study. * Participants in the precontemplation stage of change. * Participants with a high level of perceived stress. * Having received a diagnosis of: * Dementia or neurodegenerative disease; * Past or present neurological disorder; * Severe psychiatric disorder; * Uncontrolled cardiovascular or metabolic diseases; * Alcoholism or drug addiction; * Any other conditions expected to limit participation. Domain-Specific exclusion criteria * Participants will be excluded from the physical activity intervention, but not the trial, if they have a medical contraindication to physical activity based on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire * Individuals with dietary restrictions due to medical reasons, allergies or severe intolerance or an history of eating disorders will be excluded from participation in the healthy diet intervention.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Sylvie Belleville
Montreal, Quebec, H3W 1W5, Canada
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