Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05187572

Effectiveness of Reminiscence Therapy Versus Cognitive Stimulation in Older Adults With Cognitive Decline

Although data suggest that non-pharmacologic therapies such as Reminiscence Therapy (RT) and Cognitive Stimulation (CS) can potentially maintain or reverse this trend, cognitive impairment can be a precursor to neurodegenerative processes. This study aimed to assess how an RT and a CS program affected cognition, depressive symptomatology, and quality of life (QoL) in older persons with cognitive decline who attended community support institutions in central Portugal. For seven weeks, a quasi-experimental study with two arms (RT and CS program) was conducted. The intervention was completed by 76 of the 109 older persons who were first screened (50 in the RT program, 26 in the CS program). In both groups, a pre- and post-intervention analysis revealed statistically significant differences in cognition, particularly in older adults' delayed recall ability.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Cognitive Decline Cognition Disorders Cognitive Dysfunction Mental Disorders Neurocognitive Disorders

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing

Coimbra, 3004-011, Portugal

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Ability to give informed consent before study commencement;
  • Ability to participate in group activities for a period between 45 to 60 minutes;
  • No pronounced impairment of their visual and auditory abilities;
  • Mild to moderate cognitive decline, assessed as a score equal to or below 20 points in the Six-Item Cognitive Impairment Test (6-CIT).

Exclusion criteria

  • Unstable clinical condition;
  • Prescribed with cholinesterase inhibitors and/or antipsychotics during the study period.

Treatment and study plan

group intervention

Behavioral

This intervention was developed during 14 sessions, held twice a week, with a duration of 45 to 60 minutes each. The sessions were developed as group-based interventions, facilitated by a leader and a co-leader from each community institution.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in cognition (person with cognitive decline)

    Time frame: Pre-intervention (baseline)

    Measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Scale scores vary between 0 and 30 points; higher scores correspond to a higher cognition level.

  2. Change in depressive dymptomatology (person with cognitive decline)

    Time frame: Pre-intervention (baseline)

    Measured using the 10-items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-10). Scale scores vary between 0 and 10 points; scores equal or above 2 points correspond to a screening diagnosis of depression.

  3. Change in quality of life (person with cognitive decline)

    Time frame: Pre-intervention (baseline)

    Measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life - module for older adults (WHOQOL-OLD-8). Scale scores vary between 8 and 40 points; higher scores correspond to a higher level of quality of life.

  4. Change in cognition (person with cognitive decline)

    Time frame: 8 weeks post baseline

    Measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Scale scores vary between 0 and 30 points; higher scores correspond to a higher cognition level.

  5. Change in depressive dymptomatology (person with cognitive decline)

    Time frame: 8 weeks post baseline

    Measured using the 10-items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-10). Scale scores vary between 0 and 10 points; scores equal or above 2 points correspond to a screening diagnosis of depression.

  6. Change in quality of life (person with cognitive decline)

    Time frame: Pre-intervention (baseline), 8 weeks post baseline

    Measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life - module for older adults (WHOQOL-OLD-8). Scale scores vary between 8 and 40 points; higher scores correspond to a higher level of quality of life.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Paulo Costa

Other

Collaborators

  • Associação Nacional de Apoio ao Idoso
  • Centro Social Paroquial de Pedrulha
  • Centro Social e Paroquial de Carapinheira do Campo
  • Centro Sociocultural Polivalente de São Martinho
  • Doce Viver - Residencial Sénior, Bruscos
  • Junta de Freguesia de Santo António dos Olivais
  • Obra Social de Torre de Vilela
  • Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Cantanhede

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of Reminiscence Therapy Versus Cognitive Stimulation in Older Adults With Cognitive Decline: a Quasi-experimental Pilot Study

Acronym: TRvsCS

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Jan 12, 2022
Registry last updated
Jan 12, 2022

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.