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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06662578

Using Equine Therapy in Dementia Cognitive Stimulation

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if integrating equine therapy in memory workshops in mild to moderate Dementias can improve cognitive function, quality of life and mood. The main question[s] it aims to answer is:

Does the mediation of a horse in memory workshops increase its effects ?

Researchers will compare traditional memory workshops, memory workshops using equine therapy and a control group to see if the equine therapy mediation will increase cognitive functions, mood and quality of life in individuals with mild to moderate Dementias.

Participants will participate in 8 weekly sessions of equine therapy memory workshops / traditional memory workshops / a control group will not have any interventions during that period. All subjects will be evaluated pre and post intervention period.

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Key information

Conditions

Dementia Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Depression Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

CAJOU

Le Boulou, 66160, France

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Have been medically diagnosed with Major Neurocognitive Disorders
  • Scores between 0.5 and 2 on the Cognitive Dementia Rating scale (CDR) (Berg, 1982)
  • Adults of all genders, aged 65 and over; and
  • Willingness to participate in a memory workshop; e) willingness to interact with a horse.

Exclusion criteria

  • Expressed fear, aversion, or has had a negative experience with horses
  • Allergy or other medical condition which did not allow contact with horses.

Treatment and study plan

Traditional memory workshop

Other

The participants received 8 weekly sessions of 60 minutes of neurocognitive stimulation, based on French memory workshops.

Other names: neurocognitive stimulation, cognitive stimulation, memory workshops

Equine assisted therapy memory workshops

Other

The participants received 8 weekly sessions of 60 minutes, based on traditional memory workshops (French type of neurocognitive stimulation) with the mediation of a horse (example : working on associative memory by selecting which object is used for the horse between 2 presented objects).

Other names: Animal assisted therapy, Equine therapy, neurocognitive stimulation, Equine mediation

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Cognitive Function as Assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

    Time frame: Baseline and ten weeks after

    Pre and post-intervention period, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to assess cognitive function.

    Score range: 0 to 30; higher scores indicate better cognitive function

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Depression Symptoms as Assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15)

    Time frame: Baseline and ten weeks after

    Assessment of depression levels pre and post-intervention using the Geriatric Depression Scale - 15 items Score range: 0 to 15; higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms (worse outcome).

  2. Change in Quality of Life as Assessed by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD NH)

    Time frame: Baseline and ten weeks after

    Assessment of the quality of life pre and post intervention using the Quality of life in Alzheimer's Disease - Nursing homes .

    The scale includes 15 items, each rated 1 to 4, for a total score ranging from 15 to 60; higher scores indicate better quality of life.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, Politécnico e Universitário

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Exploring Neurocognitive Stimulation in Dementia Through Equine-Assisted Therapy: A RCT Pilot Study

Acronym: ETMW_DEM

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Oct 29, 2024
Registry last updated
Mar 18, 2026

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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