Adult Broad Learning Experiment (ABLE): Feasibility Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study evaluates the feasibility of enrolling and retaining older adults in a 15-week intervention that will implement six factors from early childhood experiences: individualized scaffolding (having a responsive teacher), forgiving environment (allowing the learner to make and learn from mistakes), growth mindset (believing that abilities can develop with effort), open-minded learning (exploring new experiences), serious commitment to learning (adopting a learning lifestyle), and learning multiple skills simultaneously. These six factors will be implemented via concurrent classes at the UCR Extension center (OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute).

Official Title
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Adult Broad Learning Experiment (ABLE): Feasibility Study

Conditions
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Cognitive Decline

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Adult Broad Learning Experiment (ABLE)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 55 years of age or older Fluent in English Have not been diagnosed with a cognitive condition (e.g., Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer's, and Dementia) Currently not experiencing a mental health disorder (e.g., anxiety, depression, Schizophrenia) Have normal eye vision or corrected-to-normal eye vision Not proficient in any of the three skills that will be taught during the intervention. Proficiency of skills will be determined by participants' self-report of their experience with each skill. Only potential participants who self-report having less than one or more years of experience with any of the three skills in the past 10 years or as having less than 5 years of experience more than 50 years ago will be considered as being unfamiliar with that skill (or skills) and will be qualified to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: n/a

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Half of the participants will participate in the intervention, and the other half will be assigned to a no contact control group.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention arm<br>This arm will be enrolled in the intervention. | Behavioral: Adult Broad Learning Experiment (ABLE)<br>* This intervention implements six factors from early childhood experiences: individualized scaffolding (having a responsive teacher), forgiving environment (allowing the learner to make and learn from mistakes), growth mindset (believing that abilities can develop with effort), open-minded learning (exploring new experiences), serious commitment to learning (adopting a learning lifestyle), and learning multiple skills simultaneously.<br>|
| No Intervention: No intervention arm<br>This arm will be enrolled in a no contact control group. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Screening-to-enrollment ratio | Number of participants we screen relative to the number of participants who enroll | Beginning of the intervention (Week 1) | 
| Intervention adherence | Amount of homework hours logged and class attendance | Throughout the intervention (15 weeks) | 
| Enjoyment of intervention activities | Assessed via a brief questionnaire of 4 questions created by our research team. Range: 4-24, summed across 4 questions. | Week 15 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Executive Function | Measured by NIH EXAMINER battery | Pre-test to post-test (15 weeks: Week 1; Week 15) | 
| Broad Learning Adult Questionnaire | New questionnaire developed by PI | Pre-test to post-test (15 weeks: Week 1; Week 15) |