Online Platform for Dementia Care

(LMH-4-DCP Trial)

Overseen By Sydney C Saviano, B.A.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Disqualifiers: Severe cognitive impairment, Long-term care, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

70 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests an online platform called Living Memory Home-4-Dementia Care Pairs, designed to help people with dementia and their family caregivers share and record memories together. The researchers aim to determine if this tool can reduce feelings of pre-loss grief and improve the relationship between caregivers and their care recipients. Participants will be divided into two groups for comparison. This trial suits English-speaking family caregivers in the U.S. who provide primary care for a loved one in the early to moderate stages of dementia, have internet access, and can use it. As an unphased trial, this study offers caregivers a unique opportunity to explore innovative ways to enhance their caregiving experience.

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 prior data suggests that the LMH-4-DCP platform is safe for dementia care pairs?

Research has shown that the Living Memory Home for Dementia Care Pairs (LMH-4-DCP) is an online tool designed to help people with dementia and their caregivers share memories. As a digital platform, LMH-4-DCP does not involve medications or physical treatments, which typically results in fewer safety concerns.

No reports of problems or safety issues with LMH-4-DCP have emerged from the available information. This suggests that most users find it easy to use. The study aims to assess the ease and acceptability of using this platform, rather than testing a new drug or medical procedure. Therefore, LMH-4-DCP is considered safe for participants in this study. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Online Platform for Dementia Care because it offers a unique approach to supporting dementia patients and their caregivers. Unlike traditional treatments that primarily focus on medication or in-person support groups, this platform pairs dementia care with an online interface, making it more accessible and adaptable to individual needs. This method could potentially provide continuous support and resources, reducing caregiver burden and improving patient well-being through enhanced communication and personalized care strategies.

What evidence suggests that the LMH-4-DCP platform is effective for dementia care?

Research shows that activities focused on reminiscing can boost the emotional well-being and relationship quality of people with dementia and their caregivers. Studies have found that similar activities help caregivers feel less grief as their loved ones with dementia lose abilities. This trial will evaluate the LMH-4-DCP Intervention, an online platform designed to facilitate these activities for dementia care pairs. An online platform like the Living Memory Home for Dementia Care Pairs (LMH-4-DCP) simplifies participation in these activities for families. Early signs suggest that when caregivers and their loved ones share meaningful memories, it strengthens their bond and reduces stress. Although direct data on LMH-4-DCP is limited, its design draws from successful strategies in past dementia care research. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Holly Prigerson, PhD

Principal Investigator

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Francesca Falzarano, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Southern California; Weill Cornell Medicine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for pairs consisting of a person with dementia and their family caregiver. They will use an online platform called LMH-4-DCP to engage in activities that involve reminiscing and recording memories together.

Inclusion Criteria

I scored 9 or higher on a test showing I can understand and agree to a study.

Family Caregivers: does not exhibit cognitive impairment (e.g., scoring < 3 on the SPMSQ)

I am the main caregiver for a family member with early to moderate dementia.

Exclusion Criteria

Family Caregivers: exhibits cognitive impairment (by scoring 3 or more on the SPMSQ)

PwD: PwD is living in a long-term care facility

I am a caregiver and I am under 18.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Care pair participants log-in to LMH-4-DCP and complete reminiscence activities three times per week

2 weeks

Online activities, 3 times per week

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in relationship quality and grief severity

2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Living Memory Home-4-Dementia Care Pairs

Trial Overview

The study tests the LMH-4-DCP, an online tool designed for dementia care pairs to participate in reminiscence activities. It aims to see if this can reduce caregivers' feelings of grief before loss and improve the quality of their relationship with the person they're caring for.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: LMH-4-DCP Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Attention Control Arm Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,103

Recruited

1,157,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The digiDEM Bayern project has developed a digital platform that includes the 'Angehörigenampel' (caregivers' traffic-light), which helps assess the physical and psychological burden on caregivers of people with dementia, aiming to address health issues early.

This digital intervention is designed as a flexible WordPress plugin, making it easy for other service providers, including those in different countries, to implement and adapt, thereby increasing accessibility for caregivers in need.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

eHealth Interventions for Dementia - Using WordPress Plugins as a Flexible Dissemination for Dementia Service Providers. Reichold, M., Selau, M., Graessel, E., et al.[2021]

In a study of 710 older patients (aged over 70) admitted to a hospital, 8.6% experienced reported adverse events (RAEs), with patient-related incidents linked to factors like male gender, delirium, and cognitive impairment.

Despite the high incidence of RAEs, which occurred at a rate of 2.1 per person year, these events were not associated with increased mortality during the hospital stay, as 11.1% of patients died regardless of RAE occurrence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prospective cohort study of adverse events in older people admitted to the acute general hospital: risk factors and the impact of dementia. Watkin, L., Blanchard, MR., Tookman, A., et al.[2021]

In a study of 7728 nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease and psychosis, the most common adverse event was accidental injury, occurring at a rate of 97.7 per 100 person-years, highlighting the vulnerability of this population.

Other significant adverse events included death (44.6 per 100 person-years), infection (41.8 per 100 person-years), and pain (43.5 per 100 person-years), indicating a high incidence of serious health issues among these patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse events among nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease and psychosis. Oliveria, SA., Liperoti, R., L'italien, G., et al.[2019]

Researchers are conducting a trial to evaluate a web-based home-monitoring system specifically designed for individuals with mild dementia.

The study aims to assess the effectiveness and usability of this technology in supporting people with mild dementia in their daily lives.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Volunteers with mild dementia sought to trial monitoring system. [2019]

The online platform tested in this pilot study was found to be user-friendly and valuable for both family and professional caregivers of persons with dementia, enhancing communication and collaboration over a 10-week period with 39 participants.

Caregivers reported feeling better informed and supported, leading to improved relationships and efficiency in care, although suggestions were made to integrate care organizations' record systems for optimal use.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Online Platform to Support the Network of Caregivers of People with Dementia. Boessen, ABCG., Verwey, R., Duymelinck, S., et al.[2020]

An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was developed using clinical data from 320 patients to classify dementia stages based on symptom profiles, demonstrating that online symptom tracking can effectively stage dementia.

In a web-based dataset of 1930 profiles, the model classified 16% as having mild cognitive impairment, 36% as mild dementia, 29% as moderate, and 19% as severe, indicating that online symptom tracking can reveal a comprehensive view of dementia progression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Staging dementia from symptom profiles on a care partner website. Rockwood, K., Richard, M., Leibman, C., et al.[2021]

The CareVirtue journal feature was effectively used by care networks of Alzheimer's patients for 60 days, facilitating communication through information sharing, strategy development, and feedback among caregivers.

Primary caregivers found the journal useful at multiple levels, enhancing individual support and strengthening care network relationships, highlighting the importance of caregiver-centered technologies in dementia care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"It made me feel like I wasn't alone in the darkness": exploring dementia care network communication and coordination through a digital health platform. Linden, A., Jolliff, A., Gonzalez, D., et al.[2023]

A scoping review of five studies involving 617 community-dwelling older adults with dementia suggests that smart home technologies may improve various health outcomes, including physical activity, sleep, and cognitive functioning.

Despite the potential benefits, the overall quality of the studies was low, indicating a need for more rigorous research to better understand the effectiveness of these technologies in supporting dementia care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effectiveness of smart home technologies to support the health outcomes of community-dwelling older adults living with dementia: A scoping review. Moyle, W., Murfield, J., Lion, K.[2021]

The Care Ecosystem (CE) program significantly reduced the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) among 490 community-dwelling individuals living with dementia over a 12-month period, with a notable decrease of 0.35 PIMs per participant compared to usual care.

The CE intervention not only lowered the overall number of PIMs, including anticholinergics, benzodiazepines, and opioids, but also led to more frequent adjustments in anti-dementia medication regimens, indicating an optimization of medication use in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of collaborative dementia care on potentially inappropriate medication use: Outcomes from the Care Ecosystem randomized clinical trial. Liu, AK., Possin, KL., Cook, KM., et al.[2023]

Psychoeducational programs and multicomponent interventions have shown promising results in improving the quality of care for people with dementia living at home, based on a review of 23 randomized controlled trials.

Cognitive rehabilitation is particularly effective when implemented early in the disease, and case managers can help reduce the need for institutionalization and other community services for dementia patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Best practices interventions to improve quality of care of people with dementia living at home. Zabalegui, A., Hamers, JP., Karlsson, S., et al.[2022]

The study successfully genotyped 573 older adults for the APOE gene using a remote saliva collection method, demonstrating the feasibility of online registries for gathering genetic data related to Alzheimer's disease risk.

Participants with the APOE ε4/ε4 genotype showed worse cognitive performance and greater decline in processing speed and attention, indicating a potential genetic link to cognitive decline in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brain health registry GenePool study: A novel approach to online genetics research. Fockler, J., Kwang, W., Ashford, MT., et al.[2022]

The CAREGIVERSPRO-MMD platform was found to be useful for 90% of caregivers and 89% of health professionals after one week of use, indicating its potential effectiveness in supporting dementia care.

While caregivers and professionals reported high satisfaction and ease of use (82% and 97% respectively), individuals with dementia rated the platform lower in usefulness (57%) and ease of use (41%), highlighting the need for further adaptations to better meet their needs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Web-Based Platform for People With Memory Problems and Their Caregivers (CAREGIVERSPRO-MMD): Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Usability. Zafeiridi, P., Paulson, K., Dunn, R., et al.[2020]

The Dutch version of the RHAPSODY program for caregivers of individuals with young-onset dementia was well-received, showing high user acceptability and satisfaction, with most participants willing to use it again and recommend it to others.

The program effectively meets the need for tailored information and support about young-onset dementia, highlighting the importance of a centralized platform for educational resources, particularly regarding the diagnostic process.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A cross-sectional evaluation of the Dutch RHAPSODY program: online information and support for caregivers of persons with young-onset dementia. Daemen, M., Bruinsma, J., Bakker, C., et al.[2022]

The project digiDEM Bayern aims to improve dementia care by providing a digital platform and patient registry, specifically targeting the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers in rural areas.

An online survey revealed significant gaps in the availability of digital services for dementia care, which digiDEM Bayern seeks to address, highlighting the need for enhanced digital support in this field.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stakeholder Perspectives on the Key Components of a Digital Service Platform Supporting Dementia - digiDEM Bayern. Reichold, M., Dietzel, N., Karrer, L., et al.[2020]

The pilot study of the 'Let's Talk Tech' intervention showed significant improvements in care partners' understanding of technology and their preparedness to make decisions about its use in dementia care, involving 29 dyads living with mild Alzheimer's disease.

Participants reported that the intervention facilitated meaningful conversations about technology preferences, indicating its potential to enhance communication and decision-making in dementia care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preliminary Efficacy of Let's Talk Tech: Technology Use Planning for Dementia Care Dyads. Berridge, C., Turner, NR., Liu, L., et al.[2023]

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