Exploring Neurocognitive Stimulation in Dementia Through Equine-Assisted Therapy: A RCT Pilot Study
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Control group
- Conditions
- Dementia
- Sponsor
- Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, Politécnico e Universitário
- Enrollment
- 36
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Cognitive Function as Assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- last month
Overview
Brief Summary
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.
Investigators
Madeline Alford
Clinical neuropsychologist
Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, Politécnico e Universitário
Eligibility Criteria
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.
Arms & Interventions
Control group
Traditional memory workshop
Neurocognitive stimulation as usual
Intervention: Traditional memory workshop
Equine assisted therapy memory workshop
Neurocognitive stimulation mediated with a horse based on a defined protocol.
Intervention: Equine assisted therapy memory workshops
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
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
- Change in Depression Symptoms as Assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15)(Baseline and ten weeks after)
- Change in Quality of Life as Assessed by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD NH)(Baseline and ten weeks after)