Tech-Based Caregiver Support for Alzheimer's Disease

(TACAD Trial)

No longer recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Wonshik Chee, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin

Disqualifiers: Previous AA website use, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial evaluates a tech-based support program designed to assist Asian American midlife women caring for family members with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers aim to determine if this program, called TACAD (Technology-based information and coaching/support program tailored for Asian American midlife women who are family caregivers of patients living with Alzheimer's disease), can improve health outcomes for both caregivers and their loved ones. Participants will either use the TACAD program along with the Alzheimer's Association Website or just the website alone. Ideal candidates are Asian American women, aged 40 to 65, who provide at least four hours of daily care to a family member with early to middle-stage Alzheimer's, live in the U.S., and have internet access. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could enhance caregiver support and improve quality of life.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the TACAD program is safe for caregivers?

Research has shown that the TACAD program is a tech-based support system designed to assist Asian American women caring for family members with Alzheimer's. Although specific data on TACAD's safety is not available, it is likely safe as it is a technology program, not a medication. Tech-based programs typically offer information and support without the side effects associated with medications. The program uses online resources, which generally do not pose safety risks. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about TACAD for Alzheimer's disease because it offers tech-based support specifically for caregivers, which is not a focus of existing treatments. Unlike the standard of care that primarily involves medications like donepezil or rivastigmine aimed at slowing cognitive decline in patients, TACAD leverages technology to enhance caregiver support. By integrating the use of the Alzheimer's Association Website with TACAD, this approach could improve caregiver well-being and, in turn, positively impact patient care. This innovation could lead to a more holistic management of Alzheimer's by addressing the needs of both patients and their caregivers.

What evidence suggests that the TACAD program is effective for supporting caregivers of Alzheimer's patients?

Research shows that technology-based support programs like TACAD, available to participants in this trial, can help caregivers improve their health. These programs offer information and guidance specifically for Asian American women in midlife caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease. Early results suggest that personalized support can lower stress and enhance caregivers' well-being. Although specific data on TACAD is still being gathered, similar programs have demonstrated positive effects on mental health and have alleviated challenges faced by caregivers. This suggests that TACAD might effectively provide essential support and relief for these caregivers. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Eun-Ok Im, PhD, MPH

Principal Investigator

University of Texas at Austin

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Asian American women, aged 40-65, who are Chinese or Korean and care for family members with early to middle-stage Alzheimer's. They must read/write English, Mandarin, or Korean, live in the U.S., have internet access, and provide at least 4 hours of daily unpaid care without plans for institutionalizing the patient within six months.

Inclusion Criteria

Reside in the U.S.

Family caregivers of PLAD

Caregivers may or may not reside with their care recipient

Exclusion Criteria

Those who used the AA website previously and/or participated in other studies related to AD

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a technology-based program for 3 months, with weekly group and individual coaching/support for the intervention group.

12 weeks

Weekly virtual interactions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in caregiver and care recipient outcomes through Internet surveys.

4 weeks

1 visit (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Alzheimer's Association website
• TACAD

Trial Overview The study tests a program called TACAD against using the Alzheimer's Association website. It aims to see if TACAD can better improve health outcomes for these caregivers and their patients living with Alzheimer's disease by providing tailored information and coaching/support.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Group Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Patient will use TACAD and the Alzheimer's Association Website

Group II: Active Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Patient will use only the Alzheimer's Association Website

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Texas at Austin

Lead Sponsor

Trials

387

Recruited

86,100+

Emory University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,735

Recruited

2,605,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study involving 16 Latino caregivers aged 50 to 75 revealed that caregiver responsibilities and health decline were significant sources of burden for those caring for family members with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.

Cultural values, particularly gender roles, influenced caregivers' experiences, highlighting disparities in support and responsibilities, with women feeling a greater burden due to traditional expectations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sources of Caregiving Burden in Middle-Aged and Older Latino Caregivers. Balbim, GM., Magallanes, M., Marques, IG., et al.[2021]

The REACH VN intervention, designed for family caregivers of individuals with dementia, will be tested in a large-scale cluster randomized controlled trial involving approximately 350 caregivers in Vietnam, aiming to assess its efficacy in reducing caregiver burden and psychological distress over 2 to 3 months.

This study is significant as it is the first of its kind in Vietnam to evaluate a community-based support program for dementia caregivers, potentially influencing future caregiver support initiatives in low- and middle-income countries.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health in Vietnam (REACH VN): study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a family dementia caregiver intervention in Vietnam. Tran, D., Nguyen, H., Pham, T., et al.[2023]

Many Latino individuals interested in participating in Alzheimer's disease research face significant barriers, including a lack of knowledge about the disease and misconceptions about memory loss being a normal part of aging.

Structural challenges in accessing care and feelings of being overwhelmed among caregivers contribute to low participation rates in Alzheimer's studies, highlighting the need for improved outreach and education within Latino communities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Learning from recruitment challenges: barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and research participation for Latinos with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Gelman, CR.[2022]

A pilot intervention for Vietnamese American caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease was well-received, with 11 out of 14 enrolled participants completing the program and providing positive feedback.

Post-intervention, caregivers showed increased knowledge about Alzheimer's disease and improved self-efficacy in seeking support services, with these benefits maintained at a 3-month follow-up.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Community-Engaged Research with Vietnamese Americans to Pilot-Test a Dementia Caregiver Intervention. Meyer, OL., Sun, M., Do, T., et al.[2022]

Vietnamese American caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) face significant challenges due to a lack of knowledge about the disease, which affects their ability to manage care effectively.

The study highlights the need for culturally-responsive education and outreach from healthcare workers to help these families recognize early symptoms of AD and improve their caregiving experience.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"I was Confused About How to Take Care of Mom Because this Disease is Different Everyday": Vietnamese American Caregivers' Understanding of Alzheimer's Disease. Nguyen, H., Zaragoza, M., Wussler, N., et al.[2022]

A new internet-based support service for Chinese caregivers of Alzheimer's patients was developed, featuring a bilingual email application and informational website to meet their needs for resources in both Chinese and English.

Usability testing showed that while the interface effectively supported its main functions, there are opportunities for refinement to enhance user experience.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and iterative refinement of an internet-based service for Chinese family caregivers of people with Alzheimer Disease. Chiu, T., Lottridge, D.[2018]

Chinese American caregivers of family members with Alzheimer's disease face significant barriers, including cultural stigmatization of the disease, lack of knowledge about Alzheimer's, and insufficient access to culturally appropriate services.

Improving care for Chinese American families requires addressing these barriers and enhancing collaboration with the community to ensure better access to dementia services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Caring for family members with Alzheimer's disease: perspectives from Chinese American caregivers. Zhan, L.[2022]

Hispanic family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) have significant information and communication needs, with 91.7% expressing a need for more resources and 79.2% indicating a desire for online tools to assist them.

While all caregivers accessed the Internet regularly, Spanish-speaking participants specifically reported challenges with technology use, highlighting the need for targeted support to improve their access to online resources.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Information, communication, and online tool needs of Hispanic family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Iribarren, S., Stonbraker, S., Suero-Tejeda, N., et al.[2022]

Caregiving for Hispanic Alzheimer's disease patients shows significant ethnicity-related differences, particularly in household composition and the distribution of caregiving roles.

Future research should focus on these differences and consider modifying existing caregiving models to better support Hispanic families dealing with Alzheimer's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Caregiving for Hispanic Alzheimer's disease patients: understanding the problem. Mintzer, JE., Rubert, MP., Herman, KC.[2019]

There is a significant need for smartphone-based interventions to support caregivers of the 5.4 million people with Alzheimer's disease, as current apps available for caregivers have limited functions and do not adequately address their complex needs.

Research indicates that there is a lack of tailored caregiving apps for Hispanic populations, highlighting a gap in accessibility and support for diverse caregiver communities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Smartphone-Based Health Technologies for Dementia Care: Opportunities, Challenges, and Current Practices. Brown, EL., Ruggiano, N., Li, J., et al.[2020]

Chinese American caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease experience high levels of stress and psychosocial distress due to advanced symptoms of the disease and challenges in navigating the healthcare system, which is compounded by cultural norms that discourage seeking help.

There is a strong need for culturally appropriate support programs that can enhance caregiving skills and improve access to services, as these caregivers often feel isolated and overwhelmed in their roles.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

'It's a lonely journey': caregiving experiences and psychosocial distress among Chinese American dementia family caregivers. Hong, YA., Shen, K., Han, HR., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05615233

TACAD Program for Asian American Family Caregivers of ... The purpose of the proposed study is to preliminarily evaluate a technology-based program in improving health outcomes of Asian American midlife women who are ...

2. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/search/UyuQJWxvOUKeL7i6PC3hWg/project-details/10900145

Project Details - NIH RePORTER The purpose of this 2-phase, mixed- methods, exploratory study is to preliminarily evaluate TACAD in improving health outcomes of Asian American midlife women ...

3. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/293679/tacad-program-for-asian-american-family-caregivers-of-persons-living-with-alzheimers/

TACAD Program for Asian American Family Caregivers of ... The purpose of the proposed study is to preliminarily evaluate a technology-based program in improving health outcomes of Asian American midlife women who are ...

4. trialfinder.panfoundation.org trialfinder.panfoundation.org/en-US/trial/listing/370975

TACAD Program for Asian American Family Caregivers of ... The purpose of the proposed study is to preliminarily evaluate Technology-based information and coaching/support program that is tailored ...

5. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10524474

Project Details - NIH RePORTER The purpose of this 2-phase, mixed- methods, exploratory study is to preliminarily evaluate TACAD in improving health outcomes of Asian American midlife women.

6. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-alzheimer-disease-3-2023-71a17

Tech-Based Caregiver Support for Alzheimer's Disease ... TACAD is unique because it is a technology-based program specifically designed to support Asian American midlife women who are family caregivers of Alzheimer's ...

7. cdn.clinicaltrials.gov cdn.clinicaltrials.gov/large-docs/33/NCT05615233/Prot_SAP_000.pdf

GENERAL STUDY INFORMATION coaching/support program, TACAD (Technology-based Information and Coaching/Support Program for Asian ... information below regarding confidentiality and data ...