Online memory strategy training is feasible, acceptable, and efficacious for older adults: Results of the OPTIMiSE trial (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Memory strategy training for older adults helps maintain and improve cognitive health, but is traditionally offered face-to-face, which is resource-intensive, limits accessibility, and challenging during a pandemic. Online interventions, such as the Online Personalised Training in Memory Strategies for Everyday (OPTIMiSE) program, may overcome such barriers. OBJECTIVE We report on OPTIMiSE’s feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy. METHODS Australians ≥60 years, reporting subjective cognitive decline, participated in this single-arm pre-post online intervention followed by a 3-month booster. We examined feasibility (recruitment, attrition, data collection), acceptability (recommendation to others), and efficacy (goals, strategy knowledge and use, self-reported memory, memory satisfaction and knowledge, mood). RESULTS Results: OPTIMiSE was feasible, as demonstrated by strong interest (633 screened) and satisfactory level of attrition (51%). It was acceptable, with 97% agreeing they would recommend OPTIMiSE. It was efficacious: linear mixed-effects analyses revealed improvement across all primary outcome measures, with effect sizes in the moderate to large range [(d = post-course; 3 month booster; all P < .001): memory goal satisfaction (d = 1.24; 1.64), strategy knowledge (d = 0.67,0.72) and use (d = 0.79, 0.90), self-reported memory (d = 0.80; 0.83), memory satisfaction (d = 1.25; 1.29) and knowledge (d = 0.96, 0.26), mood (post course d = -0.35, non-significant at booster). CONCLUSIONS This feasible, acceptable, and efficacious online intervention has the potential to enable access to an evidence-based memory intervention for older adults worldwide. This is particularly important for supporting the growing number of older adults living with cognitive concerns. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), ACTRN12620000979954 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-doi: 10.3233/ADR-200251