Background: Maintain Your Brain (MYB) is a randomized controlled trial of an online multi-modal lifestyle intervention targeting modifiable dementia risk factors with its primary aim being to reduce cognitive decline in an older age cohort. Methods: MYB aims to recruit 8,500 non-demented community dwelling 55 to 77 year olds from the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study in New South Wales, Australia. Participants will be screened for risk factors related to four modules that comprise the MYB intervention: physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and cognitive training. Targeting risk factors will enable interventions to be personalized so that participants receive the most appropriate modules. MYB will run for three years and up to four modules will be delivered sequentially each quarter during year one. Upon completing a module, participants will continue to receive less frequent booster activities for their eligible modules (except for the mental health module) until the end of the trial. Discussion: MYB will be the largest internet-based trial to attempt to prevent cognitive decline and potentially dementia. If successful, MYB will provide a model for not just effective intervention among older adults, but an intervention that is scalable for broad use.
Background
Dementia is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence and burden of the disease are urgently needed. Maintain Your Brain (MYB) is a randomized controlled trial of a multimodal digital health intervention targeting modifiable dementia risk factors to combat cognitive decline and potentially prevent dementia. In addition to behavioral modules targeting mood, nutrition, and physical exercise, a new Brain Training System (BTS) will deliver computerized cognitive training (CCT) throughout the trial to provide systematic, challenging, and personally adaptive cognitive activity.
Objective
This paper aimed to describe the design and development of BTS.
Methods
BTS has been designed with a central focus on the end user. Raw training content is provided by our partner NeuroNation and delivered in several innovative ways. A baseline cognitive profile directs selection and sequencing of exercises within and between sessions and is updated during the 10-week 30-session module. Online trainers are available to provide supervision at different levels of engagement, including face-to-face share-screen coaching, a key implementation resource that is triaged by a “red flag” system for automatic tracking of user adherence and engagement, or through user-initiated help requests. Individualized and comparative feedback is provided to aid motivation and, for the first time, establish a social support network for the user based on their real-world circle of friends and family.
Results
The MYB pilot was performed from November 2017 to March 2018. We are currently analyzing data from this pilot trial (n=100), which will make up a separate research paper. The main trial was launched in June 2018. Process and implementation data from the first training module (September to November 2018) are expected to be reported in 2019 and final trial outcomes are anticipated in 2022.
Conclusions
The BTS implemented in MYB is focused on maximizing adherence and engagement with CCT over the short and long term in the setting of a fully digital trial, which, if successful, could be delivered economically at scale.
Trial Registration
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618000851268; https://www.anzctr.org.au /Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=370631&isReview=true
'Garbage in Garbage out!' This is very true when user requirements are not addressed accurately in Web (or any) Application development. Adding fuel to this fire is the ever-changing business requirements that force these web (or any) applications to change and evolve. In order to deliver web applications that meet user requirements, within budget and time constraints, it is important to use appropriate methodologies, tools and techniques suitable for a dynamic environment. Experts in Software Development have been researching and practicing many approaches to over come these issues. However, after a decade into Web application development, only a few of these approaches are effectively used in this domain. This paper discusses use of two such approaches: (a) use of Components and (b) End User development that can be effectively used in combination for Web Application development. In our work in the Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) sector we have developed a set of Components that allow End Users to assemble, deploy and run Web Applications. We have incorporated these Components into a framework that facilitates the deployment of these Components developed by developers.
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