Dementia prevention starts in everyday life - participants wanted
Many people hear from their GP or in the media that they should exercise regularly and eat healthily to improve their health - including their memory. But good intentions often fall by the wayside in everyday life. For this reason, doctoral student Ronja Müller-Späth at the Chair of Psychological Aging Research at the University of Siegen is investigating the question: How should health-related counseling sessions be designed so that people benefit from them and take action? She and her team are therefore looking for participants aged 18 and over for their current study on dementia prevention. "Dementia prevention is not a question of age," explains Müller-Späth. "What we do today in our everyday lives can make a difference in the long term." People who still feel far removed from the topic of dementia are therefore also expressly addressed. The only requirement is an interest in personal advice.
Individual advice instead of general advice
Participants receive a free, approximately one-hour consultation at the Unteres Schloss campus in Siegen. In a personal one-to-one meeting, clear information on forms of dementia and their risk factors is first provided, and there is also room for individual questions. At the heart of the consultation is an interactive health profile: together we work out what is already being done to promote health in everyday life and where there are realistic starting points for change - in the areas of exercise, sleep, nutrition and social and cognitive activity.
Instead of blanket recommendations such as "more exercise" or "healthy eating", the research team focuses on specific tips that are suitable for everyday use. These can be small, directly implementable steps - such as taking the stairs more often instead of the elevator, reading every day or not taking your cell phone to bed at night. "It's not about completely turning your life upside down," emphasizes Müller-Späth. "We want to keep the first hurdle as small as possible and find a realistic start together." After all, not everyone can fit a two-hour gym session or a weekly novel in alongside their everyday commitments - for example, alongside work, childcare or caring for relatives.
Study on the design of counseling sessions
The study is part of the larger PaTH (Participation, Treatment Adherence & Health) research project, which has been running since 2024 at Prof. Dr. Julia Haberstroh's Chair of Psychological Aging Research at the University of Siegen. The focus is not on the effectiveness of individual prevention measures, but on the design of the counseling sessions themselves. With the project, the researchers are building on the development of more patient-oriented care, in which the focus is not on instructions from above, but on participation and communication at eye level.
The study started in January 2026 and participation is still possible until the end of July 2026. Appointments will be arranged individually.
Registration for the study:
E-mail: praevention@psychologie.uni-siegen.de
Telephone: 0271 740 4555 (manned: Mon: 13.30-14.30 and Thu: 16.30-17.30)
