Memory Encoding Strategies for People With Mild Cognitive Impairments

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment; Mild Dementia

• Registration Number: NCT02953964
• Lead Sponsor: University of Western Sydney

Brief Summary

The purposes of the study are:

* To evaluate the effectiveness of a perceptual-based training program in enhancing cognitive and everyday functioning of older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia

* To evaluate the effectiveness of a semantic-based training program in enhancing cognitive and everyday functioning of older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia

Detailed Description

People with dementia experience a cognitive decline that affects their functional performance. It has been identified that encoding is less effective in people with dementia. Rehabilitating at the encoding stage is, therefore, essential. A recent systematic review found that effective interventions needed to include training in individually selected memory encoding strategies. These strategies are classified as either perceptual (visual) or semantic (association) memory encoding strategies.

Based on the above literature, the chief investigator (Associate Professor Karen Liu) ran a pilot study on an integrated home and community centre cognitive training programme for 20 elderly people with memory problem using a pre-test and post-test comparison design.

Extending on the positive results, the aim of this project was to investigate the effectiveness of perceptual and semantic encoding strategies (and compare with a control intervention). It also aims to promote the understanding of memory loss and dementia and the need for early intervention for family members of the participants.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2010-05
• Primary Completion: 2015-10
• Study Completion: 2015-10
• Study First Submitted: 2016-09-21
• Status Verified: 2016-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-11-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-11-01
• Study First Posted: 2016-11-03
• Last Update Posted: 2016-11-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Disability Assessment for Dementia	Within two days before the intervention and within two days after the 10-week intervention	Change in Disability Assessment for Dementia to assess assistance required in basic daily tasks such as dressing, bathing
Change in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale	Within two days before the intervention and within two days after the 10-week intervention	Change in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale to assess assistance required in instrumental daily tasks such as laundry, meal preparation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Cognistat	Within two days before the intervention and within two days after the 10-week intervention	Change in Cognistat to assess general cognitive function
Change in Digit Span Test	Within two days before the intervention and within two days after the 10-week intervention	Change in Digit Span Test to assess attention and working memory
Change in Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease	Within two days before the intervention and within two days after the 10-week intervention	Change in Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease to assess cognitive function in verbal fluency, memory

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Western Sydney University; 🇦🇺 Penrith, New South Wales, Australia

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong