ArtontheBrain: An Inclusive Evidence-based Cognitive Health App for Older Adults to Promote Aging at Home

Summary

The research proposed here will evaluate whether a web-based recreation intervention, called ArtontheBrain, has positive health benefits to older adult users. ArtontheBrain incorporates three basic activities; learning (history of the artwork), play (telling stories, solving puzzles) and socializing with other users, either in person or online. It can be used alone, with another person, or in a group. It is modeled after participatory arts-based interventions which studies have shown are associated with health benefits in older adults, such as improved sense of well-being, physical health, decreased risk of dementia, and reduced need for health services. Our study will test ArtontheBrain at research sites and health agencies in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. with older adults with and without cognitive decline. The study will also examine how well that app can support different user play modalities and whether it can effect positive health outcomes similar to face-to-face arts interventions.

Conditions

• Cognitive Impairment
• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Dementia
• Age-related Cognitive Decline
• Aging

Interventions

DEVICE

ArtontheBrain

The ArtontheBrain intervention has three activities focused on a user selected artwork. The activities promote an in-depth analysis of the artwork and are organized into three activity categories; learn, play, and mingle. In 'learn', the options are to read and/or listen to the curatorial description of the artwork. In 'play', the options are to engage in a word search game, to engage in a visual puzzle game, or to engage in a storytelling game whereby a reminiscence or imaged story can be written. In 'mingle' the options involve social communications about the artwork that include seeing what other comments and seeing how the artwork has been rated by others. The mingle option permits the user to engage only with a select circle of users or to engage with a group of public users.

DEVICE

Seniors Online Victoria

The active control group will use a freely available website, which is updated daily with online games for seniors through an organization called Seniors Online Victoria (https://www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/services-information/games).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Calgary

  collaborator OTHER

• Sheridan College

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Baycrest

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Kelly Murphy, Ph.D · Baycrest Health Sciences

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-07-24

Primary Completion

2019-03-31

Completion

2019-03-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations