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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06666075

Digital Reminiscence Therapy for Alzheimer's in Institutionalized People

Digital reminiscence therapy (DRT) is an innovative intervention designed to enhance the psychological health of institutionalized seniors with Alzheimer's disease. This approach utilizes digital tools to facilitate the sharing of personal memories and experiences, fostering social interaction and emotional engagement. By combining technology with therapeutic reminiscence techniques, DRT aims to stimulate cognitive function and improve mood, potentially alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression commonly observed in this population.

Research indicates that reminiscence therapy can lead to improvements in quality of life and overall well-being for individuals with dementia. The interactive nature of digital platforms encourages participation and allows caregivers to customize content based on the individual's preferences and history. As such, DRT not only serves to strengthen the connections between seniors and their pasts but also enhances their current social interactions, promoting a sense of identity and belonging. Overall, DRT represents a promising avenue for addressing the psychological needs of older adults with Alzheimer's in institutional settings, highlighting the potential benefits of integrating technology into therapeutic practices.

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Key information

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Dementia Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders Neurodegenerative Diseases Tauopathies

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Miguel Ángel Fernández Sevilla

Jaén, 23007, Spain

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • People over 60 years of age.
  • Confirmed diagnosis of mild or moderate Alzheimer's, where the patient still retains a certain degree of autobiographical memory.
  • People institutionalized in a geriatric care center or similar.
  • Level of cognitive impairment that allows understanding and basic interaction with digital tools.
  • Approval and signature of informed consent by the participant or his/her legal representative, demonstrating agreement to participate in the study.
  • Availability or access to devices (tablets or computers) provided by the study program or the care center.

Exclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of other neurological or psychiatric conditions (such as vascular dementia, Parkinson's, or psychotic disorders) that may significantly interfere with the program's results.
  • Patients in advanced stages of Alzheimer's with severe limitations in remembering autobiographical events or interacting with digital devices.
  • Vision, hearing, or fine motor problems that prevent the use of electronic devices in an appropriate manner, without the possibility of adaptation or assistance.
  • Individuals or legal representatives who are unable or unwilling to give informed consent.
  • Behaviors that may put the participant, staff, or other residents at risk when carrying out program activities.

Treatment and study plan

Digital and Interactive Reminiscence

Other

The intervention for the experimental group aims to enhance the psychological well-being of institutionalized seniors with Alzheimer's through a digital and interactive reminiscence therapy program. It begins with selecting participants based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by developing personalized digital profiles that include photographs, music, videos, and life anecdotes to evoke emotional memories. Care staff receive training in using the digital software and reminiscence techniques. The core intervention consists of digital reminiscence sessions held twice a week for eight weeks, lasting about 60 minutes each, featuring multimedia content to encourage discussion and memory sharing. Interactive activities foster active participation, with facilitators promoting emotional expression and connection among participants, creating a supportive environment that stimulates cognitive function and reduces isolation.

Primary outcomes

  1. The Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD)

    Time frame: Up to twelve weeks

    This Scale is a 13-item tool that measures quality of life specifically in people with Alzheimer's. Each item is scored from 1 to 4, with a higher score indicating a better perception of quality of life. Areas assessed include mood, physical well-being, relationships, and environment. A high total score suggests a positive perception of quality of life, useful for assessing the impact of psychological and therapeutic interventions.

  2. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)

    Time frame: Up to twelve weeks

    The most widely used cognitive screening test to assess suspected symptoms consistent with cognitive impairment or dementia. Written test with a maximum score of 30. The cut-off point established for the MMSE defines "normal" cognitive function is generally set at 24, lower scores indicate more serious cognitive problems.

  3. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

    Time frame: Up to twelve weeks

    Instrument that examines the skills of attention, concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuoconstructive abilities, calculation and orientation and the maximum score is 30.

  4. Trail Making Test (TMT)

    Time frame: Up to twelve weeks

    It is used to assess executive function. It measures timed motor and visual tasks, and is divided into two tests: Part A (TMTA), which assesses speed and psychomotor attention and requires connecting consecutively numbered circles; and Part B (TMTB), which tests executive function and requires connecting alternating circles of numbers and letters. Longer completion times indicate poor performance.

  5. Isaacs test

    Time frame: Up to twelve weeks

    Instrument used to assess verbal fluency. Participants have 60 seconds to generate as many words as possible within a given semantic category (animals, colors, fruits, and cities). The maximum score is 40 points (with a maximum of 10 per category). The higher the score, the better the level of verbal fluency.Instrument used to assess verbal fluency. Participants have 60 seconds to generate as many words as possible within a given semantic category (animals, colors, fruits, and cities). The maximum score is 40 points (with a maximum of 10 per category). The higher the score, the better the level of verbal fluency.

  6. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

    Time frame: Up to twelve weeks

    Assesses symptoms of anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D) using 14 items (7 for each subscale), each scored from 0 to 3. Scores range from 0 to 21 for anxiety and for depression, where 0-7 is normal, 8-10 indicates possible symptoms, and 11 or higher suggests a clinical disorder. The HADS is ideal for identifying emotional symptoms in patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment, complementing the MMSE for a comprehensive assessment of mental and emotional status.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Jaén

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Psychological and Mental Health of Institutionalized People Over 60 Years of Age With Alzheimer's: Effects of a Digital and Interactive Reminiscence Program.

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Oct 30, 2024
Registry last updated
Aug 15, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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