ThinkActive: Designing for Health (Version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Co-designing services that will enable people with memory problems to live physically active lifestyles.
IRAS ID
137922
Contact name
Michael Trenell
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 29 days
Research summary
Physical activity has been found to improve cognitive function and may delay cognitive decline in people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Physical activity can also improve quality of life for people with dementia.
ThinkActive will generate concepts for services that will enable people with mild dementia and MCI to live physically active lifestyles. ThinkActive is a co-design research study which will engage people with mild dementia and MCI and their significant others directly in the design process.
The study will start by investigating the needs, desires and barriers to physical activity of up to twenty people with mild dementia/MCI and their significant others (where appropriate). In a co-design diary, participants will record their experiences, thoughts and feelings about physical activity over six days. Participants will talk about their diary records with researchers in a follow up interview at their home. In a further contextual interview, researchers will join a number of participants whilst they undertake a lifestyle activity, to understand how people with cognitive impairment manage different activities.
Researchers will analyse interview and diary data to identify the core needs of people with dementia/MCI.
Twelve participants will be invited to three co-design workshops, in which they will design a service to support physical activity. A separate co-design workshop will be held for eight medical professionals to explore how these ideas might fit with healthcare services.
Participants will be recruited from Northumberland Tyne and Wear Memory Assessment Service, Voice North, The Alzheimer’s Society and The Clinical Research Network for Dementias and Neurodegeneration.
ThinkActive’s findings will stimulate development of physical activity programmes for people with mild dementia/MCI, to improve quality of life and delay cognitive decline.
ThinkActive is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Philips Research Cambridge.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0082
Date of REC Opinion
13 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion