66 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
An open label pilot study in mild to moderate AD/ADRD patients to assess the effects of treatment with ECHS AD/ADRD pulsed electromagnetic treatment device on disease progression. Enrolled patients will receive active devices. They will treat themselves at home three times a day for 15 minutes over 120 days. Primary end point is the The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale. Participants will be followed-up for 9 months post-treatment.
The purpose of this study is to improve the care of persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their informal care partners by addressing emergency and post-emergency care through different combinations of three PLWD-care partner dyad focused interventions. The primary aims are to use coaching to help connect PLWD and their care partners with community support and services to improve transitional care, quality of care, care satisfaction and reduce future ED visits and hospitalizations.
This project aims to adapt, implement, and evaluate a Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills training group intervention for aging adult family caregivers of person with Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) to reduce suicidality. By adapting this modality, the investigators will provide a scalable intervention tailored for this high-risk population, maximizing the public health impact and improving suicide prevention.
This project will test the effectiveness of a novel intervention consisting of unobtrusive, low-intensity, horizontal and vertical lights that outline the bathroom or entry way doorframe in residents' rooms and provide visual cues to promote postural stability. Specifically, this pragmatic crossover trial will enroll 390 assisted living residents with dementia and follow them for one year, comparing the incidence of nighttime falls during the lighting condition to the incidence of falls during the control condition; secondarily, it will determine whether and to what extent the intervention effect is modified by resident- and environmental-level risk factors, and satisfaction with the lighting system.
Approximately 5.3 million people live with a long-term disability resulting from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and between 5-8% of those older than 60 suffer from Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia (ADRD). Consequences of these conditions can result in dramatic and persistent changes in functioning, impacting not only the patients, but also loved ones who become informal support persons. Many existing services help the family in the moment, but do not address long-term wellness. Thus, the purpose of this research study is to compare the effect of two different types of group wellness treatments for individuals with chronic mild TBI, moderate to severe TBI, and ADRD and their support persons.
This is a randomized, pragmatic clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a collaborative care-coordination program embedded in a health plan for people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their care partners versus usual care. The study population will include community-dwelling Medicare Advantage members living with ADRD and their care partners. Outcomes will be healthcare utilization outcomes of individuals with ADRD and include emergency department visits, outpatient visits, avoidable emergency department visits, and admission to long-term care facilities.
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the preliminary effects of home-based M1-SO applied tDCS (that is, tDCS with the anode over the primary motor cortex and the cathode over the contralateral supraorbital area) on clinical pain in persons with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), to evaluate the preliminary effects of home-based M1-SO applied tDCS on pain-related cortical response in persons with early-stage ADRD, and to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of home-based M1-SO applied tDCS for pain management in persons with early-stage AD.
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).
Building on limitations of prior research, the investigators developed the Mindful and Self-Compassionate Care Program (MASC) to help caregivers of persons with Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) manage stress associated with the general caregiver experience including stress stemming from managing challenging patient behaviors. MASC teaches: (1) mindfulness skills; (2) compassion and self-compassion skills; and (3) behavioral management skills. MASC also provides psychoeducation and group-based training and skill practice to facilitate skill uptake and integration within the caregiver experience and tasks. The main aim is to: Demonstrate feasibility, acceptability, credibility, fidelity, preliminary efficacy and evidence for proposed mechanism of MASC through a pilot randomized controlled trial. Relevant stakeholders (caregivers of persons with ADRD) will participate in the intervention.
This research study is intended to 1) better understand seriously ill adults' and their family care partners' (FCP), particularly for persons living with dementia (PLwD), barriers to accepting community-based palliative care (CBPC); 2) develop an intervention to address barriers; and 3) pilot test whether the intervention has an impact on CBPC uptake. The intervention will consist of 1) a set of informational material describing the benefits of CBPC for the CBPC team to use when presenting CBPC to members of a Medicare Advantage plan and their FCP; and 2) processes for tailoring information delivery so that eligible members and their FCP receive information about CBPC that reflects their individualized risk as identified by the Medicare Advantage program's validated 12-month mortality risk algorithm. The clinical trial portion of the study refers to the pilot test (Aim 3 as described below).
This proposed study seeks to develop a smart ambient bright light (SABL) intervention to provide auto-controlled, consistent indoor lighting that incorporates natural daylight. This SABL includes tunable LED lights, photosensors, and controllers. The SABL system has a pre-programmed 24-hour control schedule for illuminance settings to mimic the natural bright-dark cycle. It will automatically adjust the lights to accommodate the daylight effect to minimize staff burden and maximize the LI effect. The SABL will be installed in participants' bedrooms and designated areas in the dining rooms and activity rooms for four weeks. Each participant will wear a personal light monitor to measure the lighting dosage each participant receives. This study will address three aims: 1) pilot test the effect of SABL on reducing agitation in persons with ADRD, 2) evaluate the fidelity of the SABL delivery, and 3) evaluate the feasibility of implementing the SABL. The study will be conducted in two NHs in Pennsylvania. For aims 1 and 2, the investigators will use a crossover, cluster randomized control trial (RCT) and will enroll residents with ADRD and agitation. For aim 3, the investigators will use a mixed methods design and will interview NH stakeholders to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of the intervention. This is the first study that incorporates daylight in ambient light interventions and the first study that addresses the measurement, feasibility, and fidelity of lighting interventions. Findings will establish evidence-based implementation strategies and the best design for SABL to reduce agitation for persons with ADRD in NHs.
The purpose of this study is to pilot test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a clinically useful, inclusive dementia-enhanced training and tool for use by home hospice clinicians to improve care and support for Black and White patients with dementia and their family caregivers. The investigators expect family caregivers of clinicians in the intervention group will report less caregiver burden (primary outcome) than caregivers of clinicians in the control group. The investigators expect that, compared to clinicians in the control group (usual care), clinicians in the intervention group (receive the training and use the tool) will demonstrate more knowledge of dementia-related caregiving issues (secondary outcomes). In exploratory analyses, the investigators expect family caregivers will report greater self-efficacy and preparedness, and that patients of clinicians in the intervention group will experience fewer live discharges than family caregivers of patients of clinicians in the control group.
In a remotely delivered nationwide pilot study, we will be examining a novel 8-week heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) intervention vs music listening control (MLC) for 30 family caregivers 18 years and older (FCGs) of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (and related dementias: ADRD) patients to examine feasibility (acceptability/adherence, satisfaction) and direction of change in caregiver burden, stress, resilience, anxiety, self-compassion, and relationship quality.
The purpose of this study is to develop and refine OPTIMAL and evaluate its feasibility, fidelity, and usefulness. The OPTIMAL is designed to teach staff to effectively engage residents in eating using individualized, person-centered behavioral strategies.
Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) account for 3.2 million hospital admissions per year and have over three times more hospitalizations than those without cognitive impairment, yet hospital caregivers (HCGs) are ill-prepared to manage patients with ADRD with less than 5% reporting mandatory dementia care training. Three-quarters of hospitalized persons with ADRD display Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) associated with functional and cognitive decline, increased resource consumption, institutionalization, premature death, and caregiver burden. The overall objective is to test the preliminary efficacy of an innovative model of care, PES-4-BPSD, for reducing BPSD by empowering Patient Engagement Specialists (PES) to deliver dementia care for acutely-ill patients with ADRD. Traditionally, mental health assistants with training in crisis-prevention techniques provide care to psychiatric patients. On the intervention unit, these mental health assistants, as PES, purposefully engage patients with BPSD. In the pilot study, investigators found patients with cognitive impairment admitted to the PES unit were significantly less likely to require constant observation, chemical and physical restraints, suggesting improved management of BPSD. The central hypothesis is that PES-4-BPSD will improve the ability of PES to create an "enabling" milieu that addresses factors leading to BPSD and improves the experience of hospital caregivers. Guided by a social-ecological framework, PES-4-BPSD incorporates dementia education and training, environmental modifications-cohorting, increased staffing-PES, and staff support. The investigators' multidisciplinary research team is well-positioned to accomplish the following: Aim 1) Determine the preliminary efficacy of PES-4-BPSD for reducing BPSD during hospitalization, and Aim 2) Evaluate whether dementia care training improves the perceived ability of PES staff (intervention) and nurse assistant staff (control) to care for hospitalized persons with ADRD. For Aim 1, investigators will conduct a non-randomized preliminary efficacy trial of the PES-4-BPSD intervention enrolling N=158 patients (79 control, 79 intervention). The primary outcome will be presence of BPSD during hospitalization using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q). In Aim 2, investigators will use survey methodology in a repeated measures design to evaluate within and between-group differences in attitudes, experience, and satisfaction toward managing patients with ADRD. Measures will be completed at baseline (T1), immediately following training (T2), and at the end of the intervention period (T3). This proposal will be the first to study an innovative model of care utilizing PES as specialized hospital caregivers for reducing BPSD in the hospital setting. The investigators' findings will lay the essential groundwork for a multi-site trial of PES-4-BPSD and inform the development of a program that can be easily implemented in other hospitals.
Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) account for 3.2 million hospital admissions per year and have over three times more hospitalizations than those without cognitive impairment, yet hospital caregivers (HCGs) are ill-prepared to manage patients with ADRD with less than 5% reporting mandatory dementia care training. Three-quarters of hospitalized persons with ADRD display Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) associated with functional and cognitive decline, increased resource consumption, institutionalization, premature death, and caregiver burden. The overall objective is to test the preliminary efficacy of an innovative model of care, PES-4-BPSD, for reducing BPSD by empowering Patient Engagement Specialists (PES) to deliver dementia care for acutely-ill patients with ADRD. Traditionally, mental health assistants with training in crisis-prevention techniques provide care to psychiatric patients. On the intervention unit, these mental health assistants, as PES, purposefully engage patients with BPSD. In the pilot study, investigators found patients with cognitive impairment admitted to the PES unit were significantly less likely to require constant observation, chemical and physical restraints, suggesting improved management of BPSD. The central hypothesis is that PES-4-BPSD will improve the ability of PES to create an "enabling" milieu that addresses factors leading to BPSD and improves the experience of hospital caregivers. Guided by a social-ecological framework, PES-4-BPSD incorporates dementia education and training, environmental modifications-cohorting, increased staffing-PES, and staff support. The investigators' multidisciplinary research team is well-positioned to accomplish the following: Aim 1) Determine the preliminary efficacy of PES-4-BPSD for reducing BPSD during hospitalization (please refer to NCT# 04481568 for more details on this aim), and Aim 2) Evaluate whether dementia care training improves the perceived ability of PES staff (intervention) and nurse assistant staff (control) to care for hospitalized persons with ADRD. For Aim 1, investigators will conduct a non-randomized preliminary efficacy trial of the PES-4-BPSD intervention enrolling N=158 patients (79 control, 79 intervention). The primary outcome will be presence of BPSD during hospitalization using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q). In Aim 2, investigators will use survey methodology in a repeated measures design to evaluate within and between-group differences in attitudes, experience, and satisfaction toward managing patients with ADRD. Measures will be completed at baseline (T1), immediately following training (T2), and at the end of the intervention period (T3). This proposal will be the first to study an innovative model of care utilizing PES as specialized hospital caregivers for reducing BPSD in the hospital setting. The investigators' findings will lay the essential groundwork for a multi-site trial of PES-4-BPSD and inform the development of a program that can be easily implemented in other hospitals.
The purpose of the research is to study a new safety monitoring system developed by SafelyYou to help care for a loved one with dementia. The goal is to provide better support for unwitnessed falls. The SafelyYou system is based on AI-enabled cameras which detect fall related events and upload video only when these events are detected. The addition of a Human in the Loop (HIL) will alert the facility staff when an event is detected by the system.
This study is a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate usability and acceptability, and met and unmet needs from a caregiver intervention app, Brain CareNotes, among unpaid Hispanic caregivers of patients with dementia. Brain CareNotes provides support for management of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) displayed by care recipients. Over 10 months, the trial will enroll 40 Hispanic caregivers of community-dwelling patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia (ADRD). Caregivers will be randomized to use the Brain CareNotes app or an attention control education-only app for 12 months, with usage reminders.
This study is a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effect of Brain CareNotes (a mobile health application) on the burden experienced by unpaid caregivers of patients with dementia and on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) displayed by care recipients. Over 39 months, the trial will enroll 160 caregivers of community-dwelling patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia (ADRD). Caregivers will be randomized to use the Brain CareNotes app or an attention control education-only app for 12 months, with usage reminders.
This trial will assess feasibility of a non-pharmacological intervention for persons living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) to improve behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia and functional performance. Using a two-arm, prospective randomized controlled trial, 38 dyads (person with ADRD and caregiver) will complete an 8-week telehealth occupational therapy intervention provided via Zoom with caregivers and persons with dementia or receive an active control with 8 telehealth sessions to discuss publicly available caregiver education with a non-clinical research assistant.
This is a multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled Phase 2 study of an oral combination of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) compared to placebo over 12 weeks. This study is designed to test the hypothesis that treatment with an oral combination of THC/CBD will reduce agitation hospice care-eligible patients with agitation and dementia as measured by the Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) when compared to placebo at 2 weeks. This study will enroll approximately 150 participants of any gender at least 40 years of age who are hospice care-eligible with agitation and dementia (HAD). Participants will be randomized (50:50) to either active study drug (T2:C100) or placebo. The double-blind period of this study is 12 weeks. A 12 week optional open-label extension will be offered to participants who complete the double-blind period.
The goal of the proposed study, is to adapt a positive emotion intervention for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) caregivers into a self-guided online format that incorporates social connection components and adaptive system feedback mechanisms to promote intervention adherence. Previous tests of the facilitated version of the program, called SAGE-LEAF (Social Augmentation to self-Guided Electronic delivery of the Life Enhancing Activities for Family caregivers), have shown efficacy for improving well-being in dementia caregivers. If effective, the SAGE-LEAF program can be disseminated to Alzheimer's caregivers nationwide through AD treatment and research centers.
This study will conduct a group randomized trial to test the effects of a hula-based intervention in improving vascular risk factors for ADRD and cognitive complaints and function over 12 months.
The goal of this study is to adapt existing Savvy Caregiving Program (SCP) for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) caregivers of person living with dementia (PLWD). After watching the SCP Remote Learning videos, participants will attend a focus group to discuss how the program could be changed to meet the specific needs of LGBT caregivers of PLWD.
Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) are common and debilitating conditions. Financial hardship, a multidimensional construct of financial strain, financial stress and asset depletion, is common in AD/ADRD due to exorbitant out-of-pocket spending such as for long-term care, lower work productivity and income for their caregivers that can last for decades after disease onset, and difficulty deciding between nursing home care or home-based care while negotiating insurance coverage. People from historically marginalized groups can experience a double disparity with fewer financial resources to manage AD/ADRD and a greater risk of AD/ADRD. Screening for financial hardship in AD/ADRD is key for addressing the needs of patients and caregivers but critical barriers include a lack of suitable screening measures. Current measures are very general and meant for people without chronic medical conditions or are specific to other diseases. To fill this gap, this study will create a suite of measures that can screen for financial hardship in people with AD/ADRD and their families and caregivers. The measures will include a set to assess caregiver burden; a set to assess patient hardship as reported by the caregiver for patients who cannot report for themselves; and a set of patient-reported measures for patients that are able to report for themselves. To create these financial hardship screening measures, the project will conduct the following aims. Aim 1- Develop financial hardship screening measures for Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias: Using interviews with both caregivers and people with AD/ADRD, key indicators of financial hardship that are unique to AD/ADRD and the point in the lifespan in which it occurs will be identified. The ways that social and caregiver network size affect financial hardship will also be explored. Using the interviews and previous measures, preliminary measures will be created and will be reviewed by experts and a patient and caregiver advisory board. Aim 2- Create item response theory-based screening measures for financial hardship measures in Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias: Large samples of people with AD/ADRD (n=1000) and caregivers (n=1000) will be surveyed and item response theory will be used to evaluate and revise the measures and create scoring algorithms. A sample of additional caregivers matched to primary caregivers (n=400) will also be recruited to evaluate interrater reliability of the measures. Aim 3- Evaluate the financial hardship measures across patient and caregiver populations: Using the sample from Aim 2 and item response theory, we will evaluate the financial hardship screening measures across the following groups to ensure they are unbiased and reflect true differences: race/ethnicity; patient comorbidities; stage of AD/ADRD; caregiver relationship; social network size; number of caregivers; financial support provided; and caregiver's own health status (disability, comorbidities). The resulting measures will improve identification of financial hardship in AD/ADRD.
The objective of this study is to determine the effects of a 6-month, home-based personalized transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) intervention targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on cognitive function, dual task standing and walking, and other metrics of mobility in older adults with motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR).
The specific aim of the pragmatic trial is to evaluate the practical utility and effect of the PDM, the QDRS, and the combined approach (PDM + QDRS) in improving the annual rate of new documented ADRD diagnosis in primary care practices.
The overall aim of this study is to pilot test Promoting Positive Care Interactions (PPCI) with the goal of establishing a feasible and culturally responsive approach to optimize care interactions between staff (nursing, activity, housekeeping, and dining service staff) and residents with ADRD in assisted living facilities (ALFs), and further improve select resident, staff, and facility outcomes. PPCI is a non- pharmacological four-step approach consisting of (1) stakeholder engagement in developing facility specific goals; (2) environment and policy assessments; (3) flexible staff education; and (4) ongoing mentorship, motivation, and support (in-person visits and text messages) for staff to optimize care interactions.
The specific aim of the pragmatic trial is to evaluate the practical utility and effect of the PDM, the QDRS, and the combined approach (PDM + QDRS) in improving the annual rate of new documented ADRD diagnosis in primary care practices.
EPICLA+ (Early-Stage Partners in Care Living Alone Plus) is a research project designed to assist people with early-stage memory loss who live alone in the community by providing early-stage related education and skill-training sessions, held via Zoom, designed to reduce stress, enhance well-being, manage challenges, and plan for the future. Researchers will gather feedback from individuals about their experience to continue to improve programs for early-stage memory loss.