NHS Health Checks dementia component to all ages pilot project

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Pilot Project to extend the NHS Health Check dementia component to 40-64 year olds

  • IRAS ID

    211026

  • Contact name

    Carly Tutty-Johnson

  • Contact email

    Carly.TuttyJohnson@phe.gov.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Public Health England

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    The NHS Health Check programme is a statutory public health intervention commissioned by all local authorities in England. It aims to improve health and wellbeing of adults aged 40-74 years through the promotion of earlier awareness, assessment, and management of the major risks factors and conditions driving premature death, disability and health inequalities in England.

    The NHS Health Check introduced the mandatory dementia awareness raising component to people aged over 65 years in 2013. People eligible for this are given a leaflet on dementia and provided with information on the signs and symptoms of dementia and health and lifestyle factors which may increase the risk of developing dementia.

    Since 2013 there has been increasing recognition of the importance of mid-life actions to reduce the risk of developing dementia. This project involves testing and evaluating approaches to incorporating dementia awareness and risk reduction messages within NHS Health Checks for all people aged under 65 years. The project will be led by Public Health England, Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK, with the evaluation undertake by a commissioned external organisation.

    Four pilot areas across England will offer dementia awareness and risk reduction messaging to all people attending an NHS Health Check. For the 40-64 age group of interest it is envisaged that this intervention may be as simple as highlighting that common cardiovascular risk factors are also likely to help reduce the risk of developing dementia.

    The 40-64 year olds having the Health Check, and the staff delivering the Health Check will be followed up by the evaluation team to assess whether there is improved awareness of the potential to reduce the risk of developing dementia and to understand the feasibility of implementing the dementia component to all ages within the NHS Health Check.

  • REC name

    London - Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/LO/1708

  • Date of REC Opinion

    27 Sep 2016

  • REC opinion

    Unfavourable Opinion