Sharing History Through Active Reminiscence and Photo-imagery (SHARP) Pilot Program

Oregon Healthy Brain Research Network Collaborative Center (OrHBRN): Sharing History Through Active Reminiscence and Photo-imagery (SHARP) Pilot Program

SHARP is a neighborhood-based and technology-supported approach to brain health for older Black adults that integrates walking and image-prompted social reminiscence to maintain or improve brain health.

The SHARP study tests the feasibility, usability, and cultural relevance of an android application-supported walking study for brain health among older Black adults. The SHARP walking application enables the seamless integration of the brain-healthy behaviors of walking, social engagement, and reminiscence. Methods: Over the course of 24 weeks in the rapidly gentrifying historically Black neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon, triads aim to complete three 1-mile walks per week. The SHARP application is preprogrammed with 72 themed, 1-mile routes, accessible via a group tablet device. At three points along each route, GPS-triggered "Memory Markers" (historical images of local Black culture) appear on the walking application, serving as prompts for conversational reminiscence as triads walk. Walking reminiscence sessions are recorded for inclusion into a digital oral history archive.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Self-identified African American
• > 55 years old
• A long-time resident (>10 cumulative years) of Portland's historically black neighborhoods (currently or in within the last 10 years)
• Without symptoms of and without a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (they must be preclinical subjects),
• Without serious cognitive impairment and must score > 24 on the age-education adjusted Mini-Mental State Exam
• Has internet access in the home.
• Able to ambulate independently, without walking aids
• Able to sustain walking at a moderate pace for 45 minutes.

Exclusion Criteria

• Serious or unstable medical condition (such as, but not limited to, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, or severe arthritis) where participation in the trial would, in the opinion of the investigator, pose a significant health risk to the subject.
• Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson's disease, or other dementing illness.