Perceptions of Brain Health Activities Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Roles of Concern, Subjective Memory Loss, and Family History of Dementia

Concern about brain health, personal experience with cognitive risk, and demographic factors may shape how middle-aged and older adults perceive and engage in brain health activities. This study examined factors associated with perceived usefulness of 19 brain health activities and actual engagement in those activities among 761 adults aged 40 years and older. Participants completed an online survey assessing usefulness ratings, current engagement, level of concern about brain health, subjective memory loss, and family history of dementia. Linear regression models examined predictors of usefulness ratings for each activity, and ANOVAs examined group differences in concern and engagement. Concern about brain health independently predicted perceived usefulness for only a minority of the 19 activities and varied in direction. More consistently, interactions between concern and personal experience were positive, indicating that concern was more strongly associated with perceived usefulness among individuals with subjective memory loss or family history of dementia. Personal experience thus amplified rather than replaced the role of concern. These findings suggest that brain health interventions should tailor content based on concern level and personal cognitive risk experience.