PI: Miia Kivipelto, miia.kivipelto@ki.se

Most cases of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dementia are attributable to modifiable vascular and lifestyle-related risk factors, which are not optimally managed in older people. Also, the rise of eHealth approaches provides opportunities for large-scale delivery of prevention programs. The Healthy Aging Through Internet Counselling in the Elderly (HATICE) project uses a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test a multidomain intervention to optimize self-management of cardiovascular risk factors, delivered through a coach-supported interactive internet platform. The intervention aims to improve the cardiovascular risk profiles of older people, reducing the risk of CVD and cognitive decline. Other relevant outcomes of the study include physical fitness, mood, disability, mortality, and cost-effectiveness.

HATICE was built on the basis of the researchers’ experience from three large multidomain RCTs on dementia prevention in Europe: the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER, done in collaboration with KI), the French Multidomain Alzheimer Prevention Study (MAPT), and the Dutch Prevention of Dementia by Intensive Vascular Care trial (Pre-DIVA). The trial, which includes 2725 elderly participants, will last for up to 18 months and target seven cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, overweight, smoking, physical activity, and diet.

HATICE uses a pragmatic and easy-to-use E-health solution that may effectively increase awareness, educate, and promote self-management of risk factors. The potential benefits of HATICE include better management of cardiovascular risk factors, which can reduce the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes, prevent or postponement dementia, and lower health care costs.

HATICE is funded by the European Unions’ Seventh Framework Programme and is conducted by a consortium from Finland, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.