LifeZig Personalized Reminiscence Video With Slideshows and Music for Individuals With Alzheimer's and Dementia

Phase 2

Completed

Brief Summary: The LifeZig Project is a research study of a new reminiscence activity for individuals with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and other types of dementia, based on the LifeZig system, with personalized video channels containing old photographs and music on television.

The goal of the LifeZig study is to enhance the quality of life for dementia patients and their families/caregivers, decrease the burden of care, and contribute to positive interaction between dementia patients and families/caregivers.

Detailed Description: This program creates personalized TV channels with old photographs of AD patients, music, narration and relaxing sounds; as an activity to relax dementia patients.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria for dementia patients:
- documented diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's or other type of dementia, medically stable, and visual/hearing capabilities to watch television.
Inclusion criteria for family members/caregivers:
- provide care or be a family member of dementia patient, have knowledge of the person, and be able to provide old photographs of dementia patient.

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Lifezig	Lifezig	Subjects watch personalized reminiscence video channels developed by program staff with the help of family members/caregivers (using the LifeZig system)

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subject	6 months	This scale reflects the overall well-being of dementia patients. The construct being assessed is the quality of life of dementia patients, related to patient functioning, disoriented behavior, depression/anxiety, irritable behavior, and withdrawn behavior, consisting of 32 items, divided in four sub-scales: "Personal Care", "Communication, Awareness \& Memory", "Mood", and "Interpersonal Awareness Behaviors". The overall score provides an indication of the overall perceived well-being of the dementia patient. Best value = 32. Worst Value = 144.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist	6 months	This scale measures the type/number of dementia patients disturbing behaviors, and how much they bother caregivers with 24 items describing possible troublesome behaviors that the patient might evidence in the past month. Caregivers are first asked whether the dementia patient had displayed any of these in the time period, and secondly to rate on a 5-point scale (0=not at all; 4= extremely) how much this "bothered or upset" them. A "conditional bother" score is calculated which is the "upset" or "bother" ratings for only the problematic behavior that occurred. Best value = 0. Worst Value = 96.
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale	6 months	The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) is a 20-item measure that asks about the frequency of depressive symptoms (affective, psychological, and somatic) within the past week. The construct being assessed is the caregiver depression. Best value = 0. Worst Value = 60.