Development of a Personalized Intervention to Motivate Health Behavior Change in Midlife Adults at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

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PROJECT ABSTRACT Modifiable risk factors such as physical activity, healthy diet, stress reduction, and cognitive stimulation are associated with lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias. Population-level engagement in positive health behaviors in midlife and early late life is low, and large, multi-domain prevention trials have reported a positive impact of lifestyle modification on risk for cognitive decline. However, adherence to trial protocols is poor despite intensive individualized coaching, raising concern about generalizability and the ability to motivate sustained behavior change. The objective of the funded parent award is to use the science of behavior change to develop a theoretically grounded, personalized health education intervention that will motivate sustained health behavior change to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The goal of this administrative supplement is to prepare Ms. Idania Arias, BA, for the next stage of her career by providing mentored training in qualitative methods and intervention development. Ms. Arias is an exceptional post-baccalaureate candidate from a background under-represented in the health sciences. Ms. Arias will complete a research project that builds upon the parent project by understanding the relationship between individual health beliefs and structural barriers to health behavior change. Under mentorship of study MPIs, she will use qualitative methods to assess the degree to which participants interested in a health behavior change program endorse structural barriers to behavior change (Aim 1) and characterize the interaction between individual health beliefs and structural barriers (Aim 2). Results will inform development of an enhanced healthy living education intervention. This proposal also includes a detailed training plan that will help Ms. Arias 1) develop expertise in qualitative methods; 2) gain experience in community-based participatory research to promote recruitment of diverse populations; and 3) engage in professional development opportunities to prepare her for graduate training in clinical neuropsychology.