Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Dementia

Overseen By Terrance Anderson, Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Northern Kentucky University

Disqualifiers: Prior CST, Learning disability, TBI, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 17

Duration: 7 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) can enhance thinking skills and engagement levels in individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia residing in long-term care facilities. CST includes group activities such as games, quizzes, and discussions designed to stimulate the mind. Sessions occur twice a week for seven weeks. Suitable participants have mild-to-moderate dementia, live in a long-term care facility, and already engage in some group activities. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could improve the quality of life for those with dementia.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that cognitive stimulation therapy is safe for individuals with dementia?

Research has shown that Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is generally safe for people with mild to moderate dementia. Studies have found that CST is well-tolerated and can improve thinking skills and alleviate symptoms like depression. One study noted short-term improvements in overall thinking and behavior for patients with mild to moderate dementia.

These studies have not reported any major negative effects. CST includes activities like games and discussions, which are usually low-risk. It is important to note that CST does not use medication, so there are often fewer side effects compared to drug treatments.

Overall, CST appears to be a safe choice for those wanting to boost their thinking skills and stay engaged. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is unique because it focuses on engaging people with dementia in mentally stimulating activities that can enhance cognitive function and social interaction. Unlike traditional treatments that often rely on medications to manage symptoms, CST is a non-drug approach that involves structured group sessions with activities designed to be both fun and mentally challenging. Researchers are excited about CST because it offers a promising way to help improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia without the side effects associated with medications. Additionally, it encourages social engagement, which can be beneficial for mood and overall well-being.

What evidence suggests that cognitive stimulation therapy is effective for dementia?

Research has shown that Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), which participants in this trial will receive, can greatly improve thinking skills, language, and memory in people with dementia. Studies have also found that CST helps with depression and other mental health symptoms. One study discovered that CST enhances both the quality of life and mental abilities in those living with dementia. Additionally, CST might improve brain connections and lead to short-term improvements in behavior and thinking for people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Overall, these findings suggest that CST could be a helpful therapy for boosting mental function and engagement in dementia patients. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia living in skilled nursing facilities. Participants should be able to engage in cognitive activities and complete assessments before and after the therapy sessions.

Inclusion Criteria

Living in a long-term care facility

Engaging in at least 45 minutes a week of recreational or social activities

Provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

I have received hormone therapy before.

History of a learning disability or traumatic brain injury

Participation in a concurrent clinical trial

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Pre-testing

Participants complete pre-testing assessments to measure baseline cognitive function and engagement

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive either Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) or maintenance-level services twice weekly for 45 minutes

7 weeks

14 visits (in-person)

Post-intervention assessment

Participants complete post-intervention assessments to measure changes in cognitive function and engagement

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Cognitive Stimulation Therapy

Trial Overview The study tests if Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), involving themed group sessions with various mental exercises, improves cognition and engagement compared to standard maintenance-level services over a period of 7 weeks.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Cognitive stimulation therapy group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The CST group will participate in a screening measure where they will perform the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) to assess for cognitive impairment. The participants will then participate in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Observational Measurement of Engagement (OME) prior to and after the 7-week CST program. The group will receive CST, which is an evidence-based, cognitively stimulating therapeutic group intervention, two times per week for 7 weeks for 45 minutes. The general structure of each session will follow the CST Manual called "Making a Difference 1" and each participant will participate in an introduction, theme song, current affairs activity, the main activity (theme-based activities), and closure each session.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Northern Kentucky University

Lead Sponsor

Ridgewood Health Campus

Collaborator

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12038668/

Meta-analysis of the effect of cognitive stimulation therapy ... The obtained results showed that CST intervention may not improved the MMSE score, and the difference was not statistically significant, that is, no significant ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163724001302

Effectiveness of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for ... The pooled results indicated that CST had a significant beneficial impact on global cognition, language, working memory, depression, neuropsychiatric symptoms, ...

3. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13607863.2024.2410256

Effectiveness of a 14-week protocol for cognitive ... The authors found CST to be efficacious for improving quality of life (QOL) and cognitive function in people living with dementia. Over the past ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06372002

Study Details | NCT06372002 | Effectiveness and Cost ... This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of CST-ES, the Spanish adaptation of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), ...

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1140975/full

Improved connectivity and cognition due to ... Our data indicate that CST seems to induce short-term global cognition and behavior improvements in mild to moderate AD dementia.

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556523001183

Review Effects of cognitive stimulation therapy on patients ... Eleven studies with low to high rating of overall confidence (OC) consistently reported that CST could significantly improve cognition of people ...

7. cdn.clinicaltrials.gov cdn.clinicaltrials.gov/large-docs/72/NCT06978972/Prot_SAP_005.pdf

Study Protocol w/ SAP and ICF The objective of this research was to answer the following question: Does CST improve cognitive functioning and increase engagement levels ...

8. bmjopen.bmj.com bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/6/e090767

Effectiveness of cognitive stimulation for individuals with ... In the pooled samples, the CS intervention had a significant effect on cognitive function (SMD=0.63, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.01; p=0.001) and depression symptoms (SMD= ...