None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of memory groups in improving memory strategies and memory ability of older people, including those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). The LaTCH memory group program is a 2-hour-by-6-week cognitive-behavioral intervention providing knowledge about memory as well as skills in memory strategies and their application in daily activities, We expected that older people participating in the program would be able to improve memory ability in daily activities through strategy use and improved confidence, rather than improving memory impairment as measured by standard memory tests.
Interventions
The study will investigate the efficacy of a memory group intervention for older people with memory difficulties (mild cognitive impairment) as well as older people who wish to improve their memory ability. The intervention will include family members or close friends and will focus on the management of everyday memory difficulties by developing increased awareness of changes in everyday memory that can occur as a result of health or aging and increasing knowledge of memory strategies that can b
The study will investigate the efficacy of a memory group intervention for older people with memory difficulties (mild cognitive impairment) as well as older people who wish to improve their memory ability. The intervention will include family members or close friends and will focus on the management of everyday memory difficulties by developing increased awareness of changes in everyday memory that can occur as a result of health or aging and increasing knowledge of memory strategies that can be used to prevent everyday memory failures. A randomised pre-test, post-test, 6-month follow-up will be used to evaluate the impact of the 6-week memory group intervention (one 2hr session per week). Over successive cohorts, families will be randomly assigned to an early-ntervention group or a late-intervention control group.
Sponsors
La Trobe University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
The sample will consist of families who have a family member reporting memory complaint and recently assessed within a Cognitive, Dementia & Memory Service (CDAMS or memory clinic) and also healthy older adult volunteers recruited from the local community via advertising. Patients are referred to the Cognitive Dementia & Memory Service for an evaluation of suspected dementia and will be assigned to the potential pool of participants if they receive a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment after a comprehensive clinical assessment. MCI can describe a range of presentations with mild neuropsychological difficulties, but for this study the focus will be on amnestic MCI.Inclusion/exclusion criteria: (i) Participant presents with memory complaint; (ii)Objective memory impairment on neuropsychological tests; (iii) Normal general cognitive function; (iv) Adequate activities of daily living; (v) Fails to reach criterion for clinical dementia according to NINCDS-ADRDA guidelines.Additional selection criteria: (i) English speaker; (ii) Living in the community.
Exclusion criteria
Diagnosis of dementia; co-morbid medical conditions associated with functional decline or impact on cognition; untreated major depression and any other severe psychiatric disorder and /or behavioural problems; significant impairment of vision or hearing or communication that would interfere with study participation; availability during the study period.
Outcome results
None listed