Dementia
Conditions
Keywords
Dementia, Equine therapy, Neurocognitive stimulation, Memory workshop, Quality of life, Alzheimer's, Depression
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.
Interventions
OTHERTraditional memory workshop
The participants received 8 weekly sessions of 60 minutes of neurocognitive stimulation, based on French memory workshops.
OTHEREquine assisted therapy memory workshops
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).
Sponsors
Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, Politécnico e Universitário
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
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.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Cognitive Function as Assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) | 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
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Depression Symptoms as Assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) | 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). |
| Change in Quality of Life as Assessed by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD NH) | 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. |
Countries
France
Outcome results
None listed