Effects of Online Training Aimed at Increasing Participation in Everyday Life During a Pandemic (SCD Online).

Preventing Cognitive and Functional Decline Among Seniors at Risk-Effects of Online Training Aimed at Increasing Participation in Everyday Life During a Pandemic.

This study evaluates the efficacy of Real-World Strategy Training (RWST) compared to a psycho-education workshop for improving everyday life performance in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of these approaches. Additionally, this study will provide insight into the benefits of the program while people are not able to meet in person during a pandemic.

Evidence suggests that 25-50% of community-dwelling older adults report SCD and that these individuals have an elevated risk for developing Mild Cognitive Impairment and/or dementia. Many of these individuals report difficulties with complex activities of daily living.

RWST aims to reduce these difficulties in everyday life by providing a meta-cognitive training approach that compensates for age-related executive changes. The approach is provided within the context of individually identified everyday-life difficulties.

The psycho-education approach is a Brain-Health Workshop supplemented by intellectually stimulating activities such as doing Sudoku and/or word searches. This approach provides information people may use to inform health behaviour changes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have access to high speed internet and a computer or mobile device with a webcam
• Have subjective cognitive complaints
• Be fluent in written and spoken English
• Able to self-identify areas of their everyday lives in which they would like to improve.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of neurological conditions (e.g. dementia, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson's)
• Presence of severe depression
• Presence of substance abuse
• History of hospitalization for psychiatric reasons