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DementiaNCT04206670

In-Home Technology for Caregivers of People With Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment

A study testing In-Home Technology System and Questionnaires in people with Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment, run by University of California, Berkeley at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study aims to develop and evaluate new in-home supportive technology that is designed to alleviate anxiety, burden, and loneliness in spousal and familial caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or mild cognitive impairment. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
In-Home Technology System and Questionnaires
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
216 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
10 Mar 2020to 8 Dec 2021
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Caregivers are fluent/literate in English
  • Caregivers currently reside with spouse/family member who has received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or mild cognitive impairment
  • Caregivers primarily use a smartphone (e.g., iPhone, Android)
  • Caregiver has wireless internet in home

Who cannot join

  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with known non-neurodegenerative conditions affecting behavior and cognition
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with longstanding Axis I psychiatric disorder
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with metabolic disorder or major organ dysfunction
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with alcohol abuse or dependence (within 5 years of dementia onset)
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with head trauma with loss of consciousness greater than 30 minutes
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with contraindications to MRI imaging
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with large confluent white matter lesions
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with significant systemic medical illness
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals who use a medication likely to affect central nervous system functions adversely

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of California, Berkeley

    Berkeley, California, 94720

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Developing and Evaluating In-Home Supportive Technology for Caregivers of People With Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment

This study aims to develop and evaluate new in-home supportive technology that is designed to alleviate anxiety, burden, and loneliness in spousal and familial caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or mild cognitive impairment.

Read the detailed description

This study aims to develop, refine, and evaluate a new hardware/software system designed to integrate in-home sensors and devices, Internet-of-Things technologies (i.e., devices that can be controlled and communicated with via the internet), and social networking to create a more safe and supportive home environment for caregivers and people who have Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or mild cognitive impairment. The system monitors troublesome behaviors in people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (e.g., wandering), and targets mechanisms (e.g., worry, social isolation) thought to link behavioral symptoms in people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment with adverse caregiver outcomes (declines in health and well-being). The system is designed to minimize demands on caregivers' limited time and energy and to provide a platform for data collection that can be used by researchers and care professionals.

Hypotheses:

  1. Caregivers in the full operation condition will have fewer negative effects of caregiving (lower burden, better mental and physical health, higher well-being) than those in the control condition.
  2. Greater use of the social networking features of the system will be associated with fewer caregiver depressive symptoms.
  3. Greater utilization of the home safety features of the system will be associated with fewer caregiver anxiety symptoms.
Being tested
In-Home Technology System and Questionnaires, Waiting Control In-Home Technology System and Questionnaires
Keywords
Caregivers, Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, In-Home Technology, Alzheimer Disease
Medical subject headings
Dementia, Cognitive Dysfunction, Alzheimer Disease

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • In-Home Technology System and QuestionnairesDevice

    Participants self-install the in-home technology system in their homes after enrollment in the study (i.e., consent procedures and initial questionnaire). Intelligent bots monitor the in-home sensors, learn typical patterns, and provide caregivers with text messages via cell phone and alerts via the tablet when worrisome behaviors occur. Social contact is encouraged using caregiver resources and a trusted circle of friends and family who are encouraged to stay in contact with the caregiver and person with dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

  • Waiting Control In-Home Technology System and QuestionnairesDevice

    Participants self-install the in-home technology system in their homes six months after their enrollment in the study (i.e., consent procedures and initial questionnaire). Intelligent bots monitor the in-home sensors, learn typical patterns, and provide caregivers with text messages via cell phone and alerts via the tablet when worrisome behaviors occur. Social contact is encouraged using caregiver resources and a trusted circle of friends and family who are encouraged to stay in contact with the caregiver and person with dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

Study groups in NCT04206670
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
In-Home Technology SystemExperimentalParticipants will receive and install the full system (sensors for entry, activity, temperature, water leak; voice control; digital display; local router) in their homes. Remote assistance will be provided to help with the installation. Sensors, warnings, messaging, and social networking features will be activated remotely. Participation will extend over a six month period with questionnaires (e.g., health and well-being) administered 3 times (at the time of installation and every 3 months thereafter).
Receives: Device: In-Home Technology System and Questionnaires
Waiting ControlOtherParticipants will be assigned a date for receiving and installing the full system (sensors for entry, activity, temperature, water leak; voice control; digital display; local router) six months after they enter the study. During that six-month period, questionnaires (e.g., health and well-being) will be administered 3 times (at the start of the study and every 3 months thereafter). At the end of the six-month period, participants will receive and install the full system (sensors for entry, activity, temperature, water leak; voice control; digital display; local router) in their homes. Remote assistance will be provided to help with the installation. Sensors, warnings, messaging, and social networking features will be activated remotely. Participation will extend over an additional six-month period with questionnaires (e.g., health and well-being) administered 2 times (every 3 months following installation).
Receives: Device: Waiting Control In-Home Technology System and Questionnaires

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. 3 Months Assessment for Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)

    Questionnaire to measure depression (Radloff, 1977). 20 items are rated on a 0-3 scale and summed (range = 0-60). There are no subscales. Higher scores represent worse outcomes. The clinical cut-off is usually set at a score of 16.

    Measured: 3 months after baseline

  2. 6 Months Assessment for Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)

    Questionnaire to measure depression (Radloff, 1977). 20 items are rated on a 0-3 scale and summed (range = 0-60). There are no subscales. Higher scores represent worse outcomes. The clinical cut-off is usually set at a score of 16.

    Measured: 6 months after baseline

  3. 3 Months Assessment for Zarit Burden Interview-Short Form

    Questionnaire to measure caregiver burden (Zarit, Reever, \& Bach-Peterson, 1980). 12 items are rated on 0-4 scale. Range: 0-48. No subscales. Higher scores represent worse outcomes.

    Measured: 3 months after baseline

  4. 6 Months Assessment for Zarit Burden Interview-Short Form

    Questionnaire to measure caregiver burden (Zarit, Reever, \& Bach-Peterson, 1980). 12 items are rated on 0-4 scale. Range: 0-48. No subscales. Higher scores represent worse outcomes.

    Measured: 6 months after baseline

  5. 3 Months Assessment for Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)

    Questionnaire to measure anxiety (Beck, Epstein, Brown, \& Steer, 1988). 20 items are rated on a 0-3 scale and summed (range= 0-60). Higher scores indicate worse outcomes. There are no subscales. A score greater than 36 is considered to be clinically significant.

    Measured: 3 months after baseline

  6. 6 Months Assessment for Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)

    Questionnaire to measure anxiety (Beck, Epstein, Brown, \& Steer, 1988). 20 items are rated on a 0-3 scale and summed (range= 0-60). Higher scores indicate worse outcomes. There are no subscales. A score greater than 36 is considered to be clinically significant.

    Measured: 6 months after baseline

  7. 3 Months Assessment for Satisfaction With Life Scale

    Questionnaire measuring overall life satisfaction and well-being (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, \& Griffin, 1985). 5 items scored on a 1-7 scale and summed (Range = 5-35). Lower scores indicate worse outcomes. A score of 20 is considered neutral with higher scores considered increasingly more satisfied and lower scores considered increasingly more dissatisfied.

    Measured: 3 months after baseline

  8. 6 Months Assessment for Satisfaction With Life Scale

    Questionnaire measuring overall life satisfaction and well-being (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, \& Griffin, 1985). 5 items scored on a 1-7 scale and summed (Range = 5-35). Lower scores indicate worse outcomes. A score of 20 is considered neutral with higher scores considered increasingly more satisfied and lower scores considered increasingly more dissatisfied.

    Measured: 6 months after baseline

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted20 Dec 2019
  2. Study start10 Mar 2020
  3. Primary completion8 Dec 2021
  4. Study completion8 Dec 2021

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Investigator
Enrolment
216 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04206670
Sponsor's protocol ID
R44AG059458-03
Other IDs
R44AG059458
Status last verified
Apr 2022
First submitted
10 Dec 2019
Last updated
10 May 2022
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Because health and other protected data are involved, we need to consult with our institutional review board and other collaborators concerning which data can be shared.

Publications

  • Chen KH, Wells JL, Otero MC, Lwi SJ, Haase CM, Levenson RW. Greater Experience of Negative Non-Target Emotions by Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases Is Related to Lower Emotional Well-Being in Caregivers. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2017;44(5-6):245-255. doi: 10.1159/000481132. Epub 2017 Dec 8.

    PubMed 29216633
  • Lwi SJ, Ford BQ, Casey JJ, Miller BL, Levenson RW. Poor caregiver mental health predicts mortality of patients with neurodegenerative disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Jul 11;114(28):7319-7324. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1701597114. Epub 2017 Jun 27.

    PubMed 28655841
  • Otero MC, Levenson RW. Lower Visual Avoidance in Dementia Patients Is Associated with Greater Psychological Distress in Caregivers. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2017;43(5-6):247-258. doi: 10.1159/000468146. Epub 2017 Apr 11.

    PubMed 28395276
  • Brown CL, Lwi SJ, Goodkind MS, Rankin KP, Merrilees J, Miller BL, Levenson RW. Empathic Accuracy Deficits in Patients with Neurodegenerative Disease: Association with Caregiver Depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018 Apr;26(4):484-493. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2017.10.012. Epub 2017 Dec 27.

    PubMed 29289452
  • Bullard BM, Brown CL, Scheffer JA, Toledo AB, Levenson RW. Emotion Regulation Strategies and Mental Health in Dementia Caregivers: The Moderating Role of Gender. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2024;53(3):128-134. doi: 10.1159/000538398. Epub 2024 Apr 22.

    PubMed 38537622

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing In-Home Technology System and Questionnaires in people with Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment, run by University of California, Berkeley at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 May 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 10 May 2022). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

3 Months Assessment for Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) (time frame: 3 months after baseline). The study lists 8 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04206670, which also lists 5 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 May 2022.

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