Improving Dementia Risk Factor Knowledge in Rural Older Adults Through a Single, Community-Based Psychoeducational Session

Background and Objectives: Knowledge about modifiable risk factors for brain health is low in community samples, especially in rural settings where dementia risk is disproportionally high. To address this disparity, we developed a brief, brain health psychoeducation session for older adults living in rural communities. We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and short-term effectiveness of the session, as well as demographic correlates of dementia risk factor knowledge. Research Design and Methods: This single-arm educational session trial consisted of four in-person educational sessions conducted in Arkansas, a rural Southeastern U.S. state. Community-dwelling older adults (N=198, age=75.8±9.8, 75%female, 89.8%White, 70.6% post-high school education) completed questionnaires about brain health risk factor knowledge before and after a 45-minute evidence-based educational session. Attendees also provided feedback regarding session acceptability, perceived usefulness, and motivation for future behavior change. Results: More than 95% of attendees found the session helpful, easily understood, and applicable. Attendees significantly increased their knowledge about brain health risk factors, with large effect sizes (ps<.001, ds=.92-.93). Non-White and low education attendees had lower dementia knowledge pre-session (ps=.003-.046), but these factors were not associated with post-session knowledge gains. Over 90% planned to make a positive behavioral change in the future. Discussion and Implications: A brief, low-burden psychoeducational session is a potentially scalable and inclusive strategy to improve brain health knowledge among rural older adults. Such approaches may help address educational and demographic disparities relevant to cognitive aging and dementia prevention in underserved aging populations.