Senior man exercising at home

As we get older we tend to spend more time being inactive – up to 60% of older people report sitting for more than four hours per day.

The positive impacts of exercise on our physical health are well known, but researchers at Anglia Ruskin University are looking into whether remotely delivered coaching aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour is acceptable in older people living mild cognitive impairment.

The study is aimed at testing the feasibility and acceptability of remote health coaching in older people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

It is hoped that this study will pave way for a future full scale trial to test whether  remotely delivered health coaching compared with providing physical  activity information guide can improve cognitive function in older people  with MCI.

How will it work?

Those assigned to the online coaching group will meet virtually with a qualified health coach for 30 minutes per session. Participants in the coaching group will have five sessions of coaching, one session every fortnight. Participants in the control group will receive fortnightly information on recommended physical activity guide. Participants’ cognitive abilities and sedentary levels will be measured at baseline and 13 week-follow up. Sedentary level will be objectively measured using an activity tracker.

Chief Investigator, Olawale Olanrewaju, a PhD researcher at Anglia Ruskin University says,

“We hope this study will provide some useful insight into whether real-time, remote coaching aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour is acceptable to people living with MCI.”

How to get involved?

The study is running and is recruiting nationally until August 2021. It is open to those over 50 who are living in their own home and have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment.

Participants will need access to a computer or smartphone and can take part from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

To find out if you are eligible to join this study, as well as other dementia studies, sign in to your Join Dementia Research account or if you’re not already registered, sign up today!