An educational and training program for older adults at risk of developing dementia through table tennis

Background The age distribution of the population is expected to change dramatically in the coming decades, with older people accounting for an estimated 16% of the population, up from 10% in 2022 (UN, 2022). There were an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide living with dementia in 2015, and this number is expected to almost double every 20 years (ADI, 2015). Therefore, it is critical to create cognitive and physical training programs, like table tennis, for people with dementia for rehabilitation. Objectives The hAlt project aims to investigate the potential of table tennis as a non-pharmacological intervention, combining physical and cognitive aspects, for older adults facing cognitive challenges. Studies suggest that regular aerobic exercise can reduce the risk of developing dementia by 28%, increasing to 45% for dementia specifically. The project aimed to engage people with mild dementia, those at risk of mild cognitive impairment, and table tennis coaches. Implementation The hAlt project partners researched sports literature for older adults with cognitive decline, focusing on table tennis. This led to the development of a training curriculum hosted on an e-learning platform. Integrated wearables, such as smartwatches, were employed to collect anthropometric data. Coaches were recruited, educated on challenges faced by individuals with dementia, certified, and participated in the table tennis non-pharmacological intervention with the people with dementia. Achievements The hAlt project successfully concluded all activities, fostering collaboration among stakeholders in each partner's country. It effectively reduced stigma, raised awareness, and engaged older adults with cognitive decline and mild dementia, their carers, table tennis coaches, physical trainers, and sports clubs in addressing dementia-friendly table tennis setup. All six intellectual outputs were successfully accomplished, and the project received positive feedback at five MEs and the conference.