Active Brains Study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Active Brains Study

  • IRAS ID

    273507

  • Contact name

    Paul Little

  • Contact email

    P.Little@soton.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Southampton

  • ISRCTN Number

    ISRCTN23758980

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    6 years, 11 months, 27 days

  • Research summary

    We have made a new website called ‘Active Brains’ which aims to help older adults to look after their brain and body health. The aim is to help prevent problems with things like remembering, concentrating or reasoning (known as cognitive decline). The website will help older adults to make simple changes such as getting more active, playing brain training games and finding ways to eat more healthily.
    This research will test how well the website works. We will be testing the website in two groups of people: 1) older adults with signs of cognitive decline, 2) older adults without any cognitive decline. Members of both these groups of people will be randomly put into one of three study groups: 1) care as they usually receive it from their GP practice, or 2) the Active Brains website, or 3) the Active Brains website plus a bit of support from a trained person (over the phone or by email). The study will last for five years. At the end of the first year we will compare people’s thinking (cognitive) skills in each of the three study groups. After five years we will compare the three study groups again and also check how many of the people in each study group went on to be diagnosed with dementia.
    The findings of this study will mean that we can tell whether the Active Brains website helps the people who use it to avoid or delay cognitive decline.

  • REC name

    Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    20/YH/0018

  • Date of REC Opinion

    24 Feb 2020

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion