Cognitive Health, Dementia Risk Factors, Prevention
Conditions
Keywords
Dementia Risk Factors, Prevention, Health, Aging, Residential and Daycare Facilities, Lifestyle
Brief summary
Dementia incidence is rising, posing a public health challenge, but 45% of cases can be prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors. Multidomain trials show that lifestyle changes can improve cognitive function and reduce dementia risk (like the FINGER trial). The REMINDER program, a Portuguese-based dementia risk reduction protocol, was developed for community-dwelling older adults aged 55 and above. However, older adults in Residential and Daycare Facilities (RDF) have distinct needs that demand program adaptation to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. In addition, more studies are needed to evaluate the impact of multidomain interventions with older adults in RDF. To address these challenges, the REMINDER4Care program was developed as a tailored, multidomain intervention to reduce dementia risk. It emphasizes social and cognitive engagement and advances its adaptation and evaluation in Residential and Daycare Facilities (RDF). To assess efficacy, the investigators will perform a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Interventions
OTHERREMINDER4Care
REMINDER4Care was an adapted version of the original REMINDER program, tailored to the characteristics, needs, and interests of older adults in RDF. The REMINDER4Care intervention includes 20 face-to-face group sessions, each approximately 60 to 75 minutes, held twice a week over ten weeks. This program aims to optimize memory, attention, executive function, and emotional regulation while promoting lifestyle habits that protect the aging brain. The sessions include brain health education, cognitive exercises, compensatory memory strategies, training for managing personally relevant goals (with goal setting), and stress management techniques (compassion-based therapies, relaxation methods, and mindfulness). Social support and emotion regulation strategies (like attention management, positive cognitive reappraisal, and reframing speech) were included to address psychosocial risk factors like stress, social isolation, and depression.
Sponsors
University of Coimbra
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Aged 65 years and older * RDF users * Elementary reading and writing skills
Exclusion criteria
* Have a clinical diagnosis of dementia and/or Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores below the cutoff for the presence of dementia (MMSE \< 22-27, depending on education level) * Have a psychiatric or neurological condition that impairs cognition in the long term * Have sensory and functional deficits that compromise their participation in the neuropsychological assessment and throughout the intervention sessions
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Screening | Screening | Participants' sociodemographic (e.g., age, marital status, education level) and clinical (presence of medical diagnosis, current medication, sensory issues, mobility deficits, substance use, and hospitalization). |
| Cognitive status | Screening and 1-week and 3-months post-intervention | Global cognition was assessed using Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination - Revised (ACE-R), a scale with scores ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better cognitive functioning. |
| Mood status | Screening and 1-week and 3-months post-intervention | Depressive Symptoms: Assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30), a 30-item scale with scores ranging from 0 to 30, where higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms. |
| Perceived social isolation and loneliness | Baseline and 1-week and 3-months post-intervention | Loneliness: Measured with the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA LS-3), the score was 20 to 80, with higher scores reflecting greater perceived loneliness. |
| Perceived social network | Baseline and 1-week and 3-months post-intervention | Social Networks: Evaluated using Lubben's Brief Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), scored from 0 to 30, where higher scores indicate a stronger social network. |
| Functionality status | Baseline and 1-week and 3-months post-intervention | Functional abilities: This is measured using the IAFAI (Informant Assessment of Functioning in Aging and Intellectual Disabilities). |
| Perceived quality of life | Baseline and 1-week and 3-months post-intervention | Psychological Well-Being: Assessed using the EBEP-R is a short version of the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Higher scores on the EBEP-R indicate better psychological well-being. |
Countries
Portugal
Contacts
CONTACTCatarina L. B. Baptista, PhD Student
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORCatarina L. B. Baptista, PhD Student
University of Coimbra
STUDY_CHAIRAna Rita E. S. Silva, Doctorate
University of Coimbra
STUDY_CHAIRMargarida P. Lima, Doctorate
University of Coimbra
STUDY_CHAIRRosa M. Afonso, Doctorate
University of Beira Interior
Outcome results
None listed