Stage 1 – Establishing an Advisory Board
We will convene a multi-disciplinary Advisory Board that includes health care providers, scientists and patient stakeholders. Members will be chosen to ensure diverse representation of experiences and expertise. Health care providers and scientists will be individuals with expertise in the menopause transition and dementia. Patient advisors will be individuals who are going through menopause and have a family history of dementia. We will meet with the advisory board throughout the project for advice on the aims, methods, and plans for sharing the results.
Stage 2 - Recruiting participants
We will first check if participants are eligible for the study with a short phone screener. This will include questions about their age, sex, family history of dementia, and any memory or thinking problems. Participants who enroll in the study will fill out an online survey. The survey will ask about their medical and social history, current medications, concerns about dementia, and symptoms of menopause.
Stage 3 - Gathering information
Participants will then take part in an online focus group with 4-5 other people going through menopause. A trained researcher will lead the discussions, asking what participants know about dementia, their experience of menopause symptoms, and what concerns they have about dementia. We’ll also ask for feedback on our current intervention program to make sure it’s helpful and relevant to individuals going through menopause.
Stage 4 - Program updates
We will use what we learn in the online focus groups to make changes to our current intervention program. Based on participant feedback, we will update the content, delivery method, and length of the intervention to ensure the program meets the needs of individuals experiencing menopause.
Stage 5 - Feasibility testing
We will test our updated intervention with a new group of perimenopausal individuals. Over three weeks, participants will log in to a website to complete exercises at their own pace, with support available if needed. Week 1 will cover information about menopause and dementia risk, while Weeks 2 and 3 will offer exercises on mindfulness and taking action towards healthy behaviors. Participants will complete 4-5 modules each week (about 60 minutes) and provide feedback through a brief survey.
Stage 6 – Dissemination
The results of the study will be shared broadly. Plans include publication in academic journals and presentations at professional conferences. To ensure open access to the results, information will be shared at public events in community settings and on social media. At the end of the study, participants will receive an email with a summary of the overall results, including a report and any published papers.