Video Program for Alzheimer's Disease

(RT-D ADRD Trial)

Overseen By Sydney M McCage, MA

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Disqualifiers: Terminal illness, Frontotemporal dementia, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 weeks

12 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Resilient Together for Dementia (RT-D, RT-ADRD) for Alzheimer's Disease?

The RDAD program, which is similar to Resilient Together for Dementia, has been effective in teaching caregivers strategies to improve mood, behavior, and physical function in people with dementia. This suggests that similar approaches, like Resilient Together for Dementia, may also be beneficial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What makes the Resilient Together for Dementia treatment unique compared to other treatments for Alzheimer's disease?

The Resilient Together for Dementia treatment is unique because it combines video programs designed to engage and calm individuals with dementia, providing caregivers with respite time, and involves caregivers in exercise activities to improve mood and behavior, which is different from traditional medication-based treatments. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The proposed study will establish the feasibility, acceptability and credibility of a novel live video dyadic resiliency intervention, Resilient Together for Dementia (RT-D), aimed at preventing chronic emotional distress and preserving quality of life among dyads at risk for chronic emotional distress early after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia (ADRD).

Research Team

Sarah Bannon

Principal Investigator

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for pairs (dyads) where one person has early-stage Alzheimer's or related dementia and the other is a caregiver. They should be at risk of chronic emotional distress. Specific eligibility details are not provided, but typically there would be criteria around age, health status, and ability to participate in video sessions.

Inclusion Criteria

Dyad lives together

At least one partner endorses clinically significant emotional distress during screening (>7 on Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale subscales)

I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia about a month ago.

Exclusion Criteria

Patient is deemed inappropriate by the neurology team

Either partner has a co-occurring terminal illness

Patient was diagnosed with forms of dementia with clinical profiles that would preclude participation (e.g., Frontotemporal Dementia- behavioral variant), as determined by treatment team

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1.5-2 months

Treatment

Participants receive the Resilient Together for Dementia intervention via live video sessions

6 weeks

Weekly live video sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in emotional distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Resilient Together for Dementia

Trial Overview The study tests 'Resilient Together for Dementia', a live video intervention designed to help both the patient with dementia and their caregiver manage emotional stress and maintain quality of life after diagnosis.

Participant Groups

Group I: Open Pilot RT-D Dyads Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Persons living with dementia (PWDs) and their spousal care-partners

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Lead Sponsor

Trials

933

Recruited

579,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Findings from Research

The RDAD program effectively teaches caregivers strategies to enhance mood, behavior, and physical function in individuals with dementia, and has been successfully adapted for use by Area Agencies on Aging in Washington and Oregon.

Modifications to the RDAD program included reducing in-person sessions while maintaining educational content and involving caregivers in exercise activities, demonstrating its flexibility and applicability to a diverse range of cognitive impairments and caregiving situations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Training Area Agencies on Aging Case Managers to Improve Physical Function, Mood, and Behavior in Persons With Dementia and Caregivers: Examples from the RDAD-Northwest Study. McCurry, SM., Logsdon, RG., Pike, KC., et al.[2019]

The updated Dementia Dialogues® program significantly increased caregiver knowledge about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, as shown by a study of 235 participants from North and South Carolina.

Caregivers showed greater knowledge improvement compared to noncaregivers, indicating that the program effectively educates those directly involved in caring for individuals with dementia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Evaluation of Dementia Dialogues®: A Program for Informal and Formal Caregivers in North and South Carolina. Byers, MD., Resciniti, NV., Ureña, S., et al.[2022]

With appropriate staff training and orientation, caregivers can better understand and meet the individual needs of advanced dementia patients, enhancing their participation in social and therapeutic activities.

Implementing tailored programs for these patients can improve their quality of life and provide meaningful human contact, even as their cognitive abilities decline.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Working with advanced dementia patients in a day care setting. Abramowitz, L.[2015]

An integrative learning program for people with dementia was developed using the Delphi technique and showed promising results in improving communication, emotions, and overall well-being among participants.

The program was successfully implemented without the need for content modifications, indicating its feasibility and readiness for further research to evaluate its efficacy across multiple centers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of an integrative learning program for community dwelling old people with dementia. Wong, TKS., Yunhua, Y., Jinghan, C., et al.[2021]

The pilot dementia care program successfully enrolled 87 caregiver-patient dyads, indicating its feasibility and potential for implementation in home and virtual settings.

Participants reported high satisfaction levels, suggesting that the personalized support provided by Health Coaches and the interdisciplinary team effectively meets the needs of both persons with dementia and their caregivers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Design and Development of a Community-Based, Interdisciplinary, Collaborative Dementia Care Program. Goldfarb, D., Allen, AM., Nisson, LE., et al.[2022]

The Video Respite program, which includes ten videotapes designed for individuals with dementia, has shown promise in capturing the attention of persons with Alzheimer's disease, allowing caregivers to take necessary breaks.

Early research indicates that caregivers find the videotapes beneficial for respite, and staff report that the tapes have a calming effect on residents, suggesting potential therapeutic value.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Video Respite: an innovative resource for family, professional caregivers, and persons with dementia. Lund, DA., Hill, RD., Caserta, MS., et al.[2019]

The scoping review identified 12 relevant studies on dementia-friendly initiatives and small-scale homelike facilities, revealing promising but limited evidence that these environments can improve physical functioning, social participation, and quality of life for older adults with dementia compared to traditional nursing homes.

There is a significant lack of quantitative evaluations on the effectiveness of dementia villages, highlighting the need for more comprehensive research to assess the clinical, economic, and social outcomes of these innovative care models.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of Dementia-Friendly Initiatives, Small-Scale Homelike Residential Care, and Dementia Village Models: A Scoping Review. Krier, D., de Boer, B., Hiligsmann, M., et al.[2023]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Training Area Agencies on Aging Case Managers to Improve Physical Function, Mood, and Behavior in Persons With Dementia and Caregivers: Examples from the RDAD-Northwest Study. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Evaluation of Dementia Dialogues®: A Program for Informal and Formal Caregivers in North and South Carolina. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Working with advanced dementia patients in a day care setting. [2015]

4. Brazil pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of an integrative learning program for community dwelling old people with dementia. [2021]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Design and Development of a Community-Based, Interdisciplinary, Collaborative Dementia Care Program. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Video Respite: an innovative resource for family, professional caregivers, and persons with dementia. [2019]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of Dementia-Friendly Initiatives, Small-Scale Homelike Residential Care, and Dementia Village Models: A Scoping Review. [2023]