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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02729311

Paired Integrative Exercise Program for People With Dementia and Caregivers

Preventing Loss of Independence through Exercise (PLIÉ) is a unique, multimodal movement program for people with dementia (affected individuals) that is taught by trained instructors and combines physical, mental and social activities. The Paired PLIÉ Program is an adapted version designed for pairs of affected individuals and care partners. The goal of this study is to perform a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) with a delayed start design to examine the effects of the Paired PLIÉ Program on function and quality of life in affected individuals and care partners.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kaiser Oakland

Oakland, California, 94611, United States

About this study

Study participants are 30 pairs of individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia and their primary care partners (N=60 total) who are randomly assigned to Group 1 (immediate start) or Group 2 (delayed start). Pairs randomized to Group 1 participate together in the Paired PLIÉ program 2 days/week for 12 weeks (24 classes total) while pairs randomized to Group 2 continue with their usual activities. Then Group 1 transitions into a maintenance phase, and Group 2 participates in the Paired PLIÉ program 2 days/week for 12 weeks. Outcome data are collected in all study participants at baseline, mid-point and end-point so that we can examine the initial impact of the program as well as whether effects are maintained in Group 1. Outcome measures include cognitive function, physical performance, quality of life and caregiver well-being.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Person with Cognitive Impairment

  • diagnosis of cognitive impairment or dementia
  • mild to moderate severity, defined as Clinical Dementia Rating of 0.5, 1 or 2
  • willing and able to engage in study procedures
  • English language fluency

Inclusion criteria

Care Partner

  • provide care for person with cognitive impairment
  • willing and able to engage in study procedures
  • English language fluency

Exclusion criteria

Person with cognitive impairment

  • planning to miss more than 2 weeks during the study period
  • behavioral or physical issues that would be disruptive or dangerous to themselves or others (e.g., drug abuse, severe mental health issues)
  • unable to take 2 steps independently without cane or walker
  • terminal illness (life expectancy < 1 year)
  • currently participating in another research study that could impact current study
  • changes to dementia medications 3 months prior to baseline or changes planned during the study period

Exclusion criteria

Care Partner

  • planning to miss more than 2 weeks during the study period
  • behavioral or physical issues that would be disruptive or dangerous to themselves or others (e.g., drug abuse, severe mental health issues)
  • unable to take 2 steps independently without cane or walker
  • terminal illness (life expectancy < 1 year)
  • currently participating in another research study that could impact current study

Treatment and study plan

Paired PLIÉ Program

Behavioral

The Paired PLIÉ Program is a novel, multimodal, movement program that focuses on abilities that are well maintained in people with dementia, including training procedural ('muscle') memory for basic daily movements, in-the-moment mindful body awareness, and social engagement. Group classes are held with affected individuals, care partners and instructors together. A monthly home visit also is provided.

Waitlist Control

Behavioral

After engaging in usual activities for 12 weeks, the Waitlist control group participates in the Paired PLIÉ program.

Primary outcomes

  1. Cognitive Function (PWCI, Direct Assessment)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) - total score This was was used to directly assess cognitive function in PWCI. It is one of the most commonly used outcome measures in dementia drug treatment trials. It includes direct assessment of learning (10-word list), naming (objects), following commands, constructional praxis (figure copying), ideational praxis (mailing a letter), orientation (person, time, place), recognition memory and remembering test instructions. The ADAS-cog has shown high consistency and test-retest reliability. Higher scores (range 0-70) indicate worse cognitive function.

  2. Physical Function (Affected Individual, Direct Assessment)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) - total score The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was developed by the National Institute on Aging to provide an objective tool for measuring physical performance in older adults. It includes direct assessment of lower body strength, balance and gait speed that provide a summary score (range 0-12). Higher scores indicate higher performance ability.

  3. Quality of Life (Affected Individual, Self-report)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Quality of life in Alzheimer's disease (QOL-AD) - total score The Quality of Life Scale in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) asks PWDs to rate their current quality of life on a 4-point Likert scale (poor, fair, good, excellent) in 13 areas: physical health, energy, mood, living situation, memory, family, marriage, friends, self as a whole, ability to do chores around the house, ability to do things for fun, money, and life as a whole. Internal consistency is excellent with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.82. Higher scores (range 4-52) indicate higher quality of life.

  4. Caregiver Burden (Caregiver, Self-report)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) - total score This is a standard 24-item measure that includes questions about the CPs feelings about caregiving on a 5-point Likert scale with 5 domains. This measure has good internal consistency. Higher scores (range 0-96) indicate higher burden.

  5. Cognitive Function (Affected Individual, Direct Assessment)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) - total score The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) was used to directly assess cognitive function in PWD. It is one of the most commonly used outcome measures in dementia drug treatment trials. It includes direct assessment of learning (10-word list), naming (objects), following commands, constructional praxis (figure copying), ideational praxis (mailing a letter), orientation (person, time, place), recognition memory and remembering test instructions. The ADAS-cog has shown high consistency and test-retest reliability. Higher scores (range 0-70) indicate worse cognitive function.

  6. Physical Function (Affected Individual, Direct Assessment)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) - total score The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was developed by the National Institute on Aging to provide an objective tool for measuring physical performance in older adults. It includes direct assessment of lower body strength, balance and gait speed that provide a summary score (range 0-12). Higher scores indicate higher performance ability

  7. Quality of Life (Affected Individual, Self-report)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Quality of life in Alzheimer's disease (QOL-AD) - total score Quality of life in Alzheimer's disease (QOL-AD) - total score The Quality of Life Scale in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) asks PWDs to rate their current quality of life on a 4-point Likert scale (poor, fair, good, excellent) in 13 areas: physical health, energy, mood, living situation, memory, family, marriage, friends, self as a whole, ability to do chores around the house, ability to do things for fun, money, and life as a whole. Internal consistency is excellent with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.82. Higher scores (range 4-52) indicate higher quality of life.

  8. Caregiver Burden (Caregiver, Self-report)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) - total score Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) - total score This is a standard 24-item measure that includes questions about the CPs feelings about caregiving on a 5-point Likert scale with 5 domains. This measure has good internal consistency. Higher scores (range 0-96) indicate higher burden.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Independence (Affected Individual, Caregiver Report)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) - total score Independence (PWD - CP report). The Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD)is a standard measure that asks CPs to rate the participant's disability with 17 basic and 23 instrumental activities of daily living over the past 2 weeks. The DAD has high established validity and high test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, and internal consistency. Scores represent the percentage of activities performed independently during the past two weeks of those applicable (total number of questions answered yes/total questions applicable)∗100 with the range from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater independence

  2. Dementia-related Behaviors - Number (Affected Individual, Caregiver Report)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was administered to assess the number (NPI-N), caused by 12 common dementia-related behaviors (delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, anxiety, elation/euphoria, apathy/indifference, disinhibition, irritability/lability, aberrant motor behavior, sleep, and appetite/eating) by CP report and has good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. NPI-N scores range from 0-12. Higher scores indicate worse outcomes (i.e., more behaviors, greater frequency/severity and greater distress).

  3. Dementia-related Behaviors - Severity (Affected Individual, Caregiver Report)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) - total frequency * severity measures distress caused by 12 common dementia-related behaviors (delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, anxiety, elation/euphoria, apathy/indifference, disinhibition, irritability/lability, aberrant motor behavior, sleep, and appetite/eating) by CP report and has good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. NPI-FS was calculated by multiplying the frequency∗severity of behaviors, which had a range of 0-144. Higher scores indicate worse outcomes (i.e., more behaviors, greater frequency/severity and greater distress).

  4. Dementia-related Behaviors - Caregiver Distress (Caregiver, Self-report)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) - total distress level of caregiver distress (NPI-CD) caused by 12 common dementia-related behaviors (delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, anxiety, elation/euphoria, apathy/indifference, disinhibition, irritability/lability, aberrant motor behavior, sleep, and appetite/eating) by CP report and has good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. NPI-CD range from 0-60. Higher scores indicate worse outcomes (i.e., more behaviors, greater frequency/severity and greater distress).

  5. Falls Efficacy (Affected Individual, Self-report)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) - total score We administered a modified version of the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) to assess concern about falling for the PWD in 10 different scenarios. Response categories used a 4-point Likert scale (range: 10 to 40), with higher scores indicating greater concern about falling (i.e., lower efficacy). Although the FES has been validated in individuals with cognitive impairment the questionnaire was administered separately to PWD and CPs to obtain their independent perspetive

  6. Falls Efficacy (Affected Individual, Caregiver Report)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) - total score We administered a modified version of the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) to assess concern about falling for the PWD in 10 different scenarios. Response categories used a 4-point Likert scale (range: 10 to 40), with higher scores indicating greater concern about falling (i.e., lower efficacy). Although the FES has been validated in individuals with cognitive impairment the questionnaire was administered separately to PWD and CPs to obtain their independent perspective

  7. Quality of Life (Affected Individual, Caregiver Report)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) - total score The Quality of Life Scale in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) also asks CPs to rate the PWD current quality of life on the same scale as the PWD QOL self-report. It asks to rate their current quality of life on a 4-point Likert scale (poor, fair, good, excellent) in 13 areas: physical health, energy, mood, living situation, memory, family, marriage, friends, self as a whole, ability to do chores around the house, ability to do things for fun, money, and life as a whole. Internal consistency is excellent with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.82. Higher scores (range 4-52) indicate higher quality of life.

  8. Mood (Caregiver, Self-report)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) - total score. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a standard measure that includes 15 yes/no questions assessing depressive symptomatology over the past week. PWD and CP answered separately regarding their own mood. This scale ranges from 0 to 15 and has been validated in people with and without cognitive impairment. Higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms.

  9. Feelings About Caregiving (Caregiver, Self-report)

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC) - total score. The PAC scale includes 9 questions about the benefits of caregiving noticed by the CPs about themselves, which are rated on a 5-point Likert scale. This measure has high internal consistency and can improve with CP training interventions. Total scores range from 11 to 55 with higher scores indicating more positive feelings.

  10. Independence (Affected Individual, Caregiver Report)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) - total score. The DAD is a standard measure that asks CPs to rate the participant's disability with 17 basic and 23 instrumental activities of daily living over the past 2 weeks. The DAD has high established validity and high test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, and internal consistency. Scores represent the percentage of activities performed independently during the past two weeks of those applicable (total number of questions answered yes/total questions applicable)∗100 with the range from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater independence.

  11. Dementia-related Behaviors - Number (Affected Individual, Caregiver Report)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) - total number of symptoms. The NPI asks CPs to report the number (NPI-N), frequency/severity (NPI-FS), and level of caregiver distress (NPI-CD) caused by 12 common dementia-related behaviors (delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, anxiety, elation/euphoria, apathy/indifference, disinhibition, irritability/lability, aberrant motor behavior, sleep, and appetite/eating) and has good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. NPI-N scores range from 0-12.

  12. Dementia-related Behaviors - Frequency and Severity (Affected Individual, Caregiver Report)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Frequency/Severity (NPI-FS). For each behavior present, care partners are asked to rate the frequency (occasionally=1, often=2, frequently=3, very frequently=4) and severity (mild=1, moderate=2, severe=3). The score is obtained by multiplying frequency and severity and adding them for each behavior. Scores may range from 0 to 144 with higher scores indicating more frequent/severe behaviors.

  13. Dementia-related Behaviors - Caregiver Distress (Caregiver, Self-report)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Neuropsychiatric Inventory - caregiver distress (NPI-CD). For each behavior, caregivers are asked how emotionally distressing they find the behavior on a scale from 0 (not distressing at all) to 5 (extreme or very severe). Scores may range from 0 to 60 with higher scores indicating greater distress.

  14. Falls Efficacy (Affected Individual, Self-report)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) - total score. We administered a modified version of the FES to assess the participant's concern about falling in 10 different scenarios. Response categories used a 4-point Likert scale (range: 10 to 40), with higher scores indicating greater concern about falling (i.e., lower efficacy).

  15. Falls Efficacy (Affected Individual, Caregiver Report)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) - total score. We administered a modified version of the FES to assess the caregiver's concern about the participant falling in 10 different scenarios. Response categories used a 4-point Likert scale (range: 10 to 40), with higher scores indicating greater concern about falling (i.e., lower efficacy).

  16. Quality of Life (Person With Dementia, Caregiver Report)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) - total score. Caregivers were asked to rate the QOL of participants with dementia on a 4-point Likert scale (poor, fair, good, excellent) in 13 areas: physical health, energy, mood, living situation, memory, family, marriage, friends, self as a whole, ability to do chores around the house, ability to do things for fun, money, and life as a whole. Internal consistency is excellent with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.82. Higher scores (range 4-52) indicate higher quality of life.

  17. Mood (Caregiver, Self-report)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) - total score. The GDS is a standard measure that includes 15 yes/no questions assessing depressive symptomatology over the past week. PWD and CP answered separately regarding their own mood. This scale ranges from 0 to 15 and has been validated in people with and without cognitive impairment. Higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms.

  18. Feelings About Caregiving (Caregiver, Self-report)

    Time frame: 24 weeks

    Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC) - total score. The PAC includes 9 questions about the benefits of caregiving noticed by the CPs about themselves, which are rated on a 5-point Likert scale. This measure has high internal consistency and can improve with CP training interventions. Total scores range from 11 to 55 with higher scores indicating more positive feelings.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Other

Collaborators

  • Kaiser Permanente

Registry information

Acronym: Paired PLIÉ

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2018
First posted
Apr 6, 2016
Registry last updated
Jan 24, 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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