Mild cognitive impairment virtual course 2022

This virtual course is intended to equip people across the UK with knowledge and understanding of diseases which affect cognition and thinking, focusing on improving diagnosis, support and information for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

It also draws on the concept of brain health to combine existing evidence and tools to explore how we can improve services and models of care for dementia prevention where this is possible, and for early escalation of care, where it is not.

Background

Growing evidence suggests that supporting lifestyle changes for people with a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) could improve the health of their brains and may reduce their risk of developing dementia. Indeed, recent evidence suggests that up to 40% of dementia cases may be potentially preventable through modification of life-course risk factors (Livingston 2020).

Unfortunately, this important window of opportunity to reduce dementia risk and improve wellbeing is often missed in existing UK clinical pathways, where people with an MCI diagnosis are commonly discharged without follow-up and asked to ‘watch and wait’ for their condition to deteriorate (Leroi et al, 2020).

Ensuring a broad understanding of the diseases and conditions which can lead to cognitive impairment, the diagnostic processes and, importantly, appropriate referral pathways and interventions for risk mitigation will all contribute to improving outcomes for people experiencing MCI, and lead to a more brain-healthy society as a whole.

What will delegates learn?

The virtual course will cover 8 modules, featuring various expert speakers across different themes, with 2 further modules and support for participants who choose to carry out a quality improvement project locally.

Quality improvement projects take place over 6 months and are optional, small-scale ways to translate your learning into local service improvement. Practical suggestions and examples of quality improvement projects will be included throughout the course, with mentors available, and the opportunity to share learning more widely after the course is completed.

Practical ideas for quality improvement

As a result of the projects from our 2021 course, we are delighted to publish our first 'Education with Impact' booklet, 'Quality improvement in mild cognitive impairment (MCI): Stories from across the UK and Ireland'. The booklet contains a range of different projects carried out by delegates on the first MCI course.

Who is this course for?

This course is intended for anyone involved in services or support for people affected by mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. This might include health professionals across primary, secondary and tertiary services, social care professionals, providers, members of the voluntary sector, service managers and commissioners, and people experiencing mild cognitive impairment themselves.

As such, the material covered will focus on a clear evidence-base for interventions in MCI and reducing risk of dementia across the population, practical examples of different approaches to service models and interventions, and clarity around collaborative solutions, and involving a wide variety of stakeholders at all levels of planning and provision.

Timeframe

• Modules 1-8 first module launches July 2022, and weekly thereafter

• Module 9: QI project submission presentation during October (live)

  • opportunity to submit 3 minute proposal video in advance to share as a pre-recording if necessary

• Module 10: Presenting QI project April 2023 (live)

  • opportunity to submit 3 minute presentation video in advance to share as a pre-recording if necessary

Cost of the course

This is a free course for UK delegates. To reserve your space on this course, please complete our registration form.

Access to course resources

Delegates will be able to access sessions, presentation slides and other resources for 12 months after completion of the course with their website account.

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