DementiaCST+MSTNCT07625241
CST+MST Intervention on People Living With Mild-to-moderate Dementia
A study testing Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Motor Stimulation Treatment in people with Dementia, run by Istituto Superiore di Sanità at 1 site in Italy.
Trial summary
Non-pharmacological interventions such as Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) and physical activity are recommended for people living with mild-to-moderate dementia. Emerging evidence suggests that combining cognitive and motor interventions may provide synergistic benefits on cognition, mobility, and functional… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Dementia
- What is being tested?
- Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Motor Stimulation Treatment
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 421 participants
- Where
- 1 siteItaly
- Study dates
- 31 Jul 2025to Jul 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 65 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- age ≥ 65 years;
- having been assessed by a Center for Dementia and Cognitive Disorders (CCDD) who diagnosed dementia with any etiology of mild to moderate severity;
- being able to perform a Timed Up and Go test (TUG) regardless of the time taken, i.e. being able to walk independently or with assistance, but without the need for human help during the test;
- having no hearing or visual impairments of a degree that would preclude participation in the interventions.
Who cannot join
- presence of specific behavioural disorders (delusions, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, euphoria, disinhibition, irritability, wandering) of a degree that prevents participation in the interventions;
- diseases that contraindicate physical activity (e.g. severe heart failure).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Italy1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Centre for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia "ASL 3 GENOVESE"
Genova, Genova, 16132
Claudio Ivaldi, +39 3477569654, Claudio.Ivaldi@asl3.liguria.it
About this study
Official title: Outcome Research Study on the Evaluation of a Combined Treatment of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Group Motor Stimulation in People With Mild-to-Moderate Dementia
Non-pharmacological interventions such as Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) and physical activity are recommended for people living with mild-to-moderate dementia. Emerging evidence suggests that combining cognitive and motor interventions may provide synergistic benefits on cognition, mobility, and functional abilities. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined CST and Motor Stimulation Treatment (MST) programme.
This multicenter quasi-experimental study will involve 30 clinical centers across five Italian regions. Participants aged ≥65 years with mild-to-moderate dementia will receive 14 combined CST+MST sessions delivered twice weekly over 7 weeks. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and after 14 weeks by the end of the interventions. Primary outcomes include proportion of responders on the Mini-Mental State Examination (≥2.32 points) and Timed Up and Go test (≥1 point). Secondary outcomes include cognitive, motor, functional, psychological, and caregiver-related measures.
Ethical approval was obtained from the Italian National Ethics Committee in July 2025 (reference number: 2025_0032251). Written informed consent will be obtained from participants and/or their legal representatives, as well as from caregivers involved in the study. All procedures will comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and national data protection regulations. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations at national and international conferences.
- Conditions
- Dementia
- Being tested
- Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Motor Stimulation Treatment
- Keywords
- dementia, combined intervention, cognitive stimulation therapy, cst, motor stimulation treatment
- Medical subject headings
- Dementia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Motor Stimulation TreatmentBehavioural
Also called CST, MST
The intervention will consist of a total of 14 sessions lasting 2 hours each over 7 weeks (twice a week). The intervention will be delivered in groups of 6-8 patients with similar cognitive abilities and will always be carried out by two operators, a psychologist and a physiotherapist. The space will be large enough to allow patients to walk easily in a circle; however, adjustments may be made (e.g. walking on the spot). Each session will consist of an initial 45-minute CST session followed by an MST session. The short break scheduled in the CST protocol will be postponed until the end of this intervention and before the MST session.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| People living with mild-to-moderate dementia | Experimental | People living with mild-to-moderate dementia being able to perform a Timed Up and Go test (TUG) regardless of the time taken, i.e. being able to walk independently or with assistance, but without the need for human help during the test, and having no hearing or visual impairments of a degree that would preclude participation in the interventions. Receives: Behavioral: Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Motor Stimulation Treatment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)
A screening neuropsychological test assessing cognitive global function. The total score is 30. Higher scores indicate better cognitive performance.
Measured: The test will be administered at baseline, at week 7 and at week 14
Timed and Up Go Test (TUG)
TUG test is a simple clinical measure of functional mobility and fall risk. It records the time (in seconds) needed to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, walk back, and sit down. Scores are interpreted as follows: lower times indicate better mobility, with <10 seconds generally considered normal, 10-20 seconds indicating mild mobility impairment, and >20-30 seconds suggesting increased fall risk and functional limitation, depending on clinical context.
Measured: Baseline, week 7, and week 14
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Jun 2026
- Study start31 Jul 2025
- Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for DementiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 421 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07625241
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025_0032251
- Other IDs
- 2025
- Acronym
- CST+MST
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 28 May 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: We will share individual participant data (IPD) including baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, outcome measures collected during and after the intervention (e.g., cognitive, functional, and motor assessments), and relevant safety/adverse event data. All shared IPD will be de-identified to ensure participant confidentiality.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Outcome Research Study on the Evaluation of a Combined Treatment of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Group Motor Stimulation in People With Mild-to-Moderate Dementia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07625241
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CST+MST / 2025_0032251
- Conditions
- Dementia
- Keywords
- dementia, combined intervention, cognitive stimulation therapy, cst, motor stimulation treatment
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 421 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Istituto Superiore di SanitàUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 31 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Non-pharmacological interventions such as Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) and physical activity are recommended for people living with mild-to-moderate dementia. Emerging evidence suggests that combining cognitive and motor interventions may provide synergistic benefits on cognition, mobility, and functional abilities. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined CST and Motor Stimulation Treatment (MST) programme.
This multicenter quasi-experimental study will involve 30 clinical centers across five Italian regions. Participants aged ≥65 years with mild-to-moderate dementia will receive 14 combined CST+MST sessions delivered twice weekly over 7 weeks. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and after 14 weeks by the end of the interventions. Primary outcomes include proportion of responders on the Mini-Mental State Examination (≥2.32 points) and Timed Up and Go test (≥1 point). Secondary outcomes include cognitive, motor, functional, psychological, and caregiver-related measures.
Ethical approval was obtained from the Italian National Ethics Committee in July 2025 (reference number: 2025_0032251). Written informed consent will be obtained from participants and/or their legal representatives, as well as from caregivers involved in the study. All procedures will comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and national data protection regulations. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations at national and international conferences.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| People living with mild-to-moderate dementia | Experimental | Behavioral: Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Motor Stimulation TreatmentPeople living with mild-to-moderate dementia being able to perform a Timed Up and Go test (TUG) regardless of the time taken, i.e. being able to walk independently or with assistance, but without the need for human help during the test, and having no hearing or visual impairments of a degree that would preclude participation in the interventions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- age ≥ 65 years;
- having been assessed by a Center for Dementia and Cognitive Disorders (CCDD) who diagnosed dementia with any etiology of mild to moderate severity;
- being able to perform a Timed Up and Go test (TUG) regardless of the time taken, i.e. being able to walk independently or with assistance, but without the need for human help during the test;
- having no hearing or visual impairments of a degree that would preclude participation in the interventions.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- presence of specific behavioural disorders (delusions, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, euphoria, disinhibition, irritability, wandering) of a degree that prevents participation in the interventions;
- diseases that contraindicate physical activity (e.g. severe heart failure).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Motor Stimulation TreatmentAlso: CST, MSTThe intervention will consist of a total of 14 sessions lasting 2 hours each over 7 weeks (twice a week). The intervention will be delivered in groups of 6-8 patients with similar cognitive abilities and will always be carried out by two operators, a psychologist and a physiotherapist. The space will be large enough to allow patients to walk easily in a circle; however, adjustments may be made (e.g. walking on the spot). Each session will consist of an initial 45-minute CST session followed by an MST session. The short break scheduled in the CST protocol will be postponed until the end of this intervention and before the MST session. | Behavioural | People living with mild-to-moderate dementia |
Primary outcome
Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Time frame: The test will be administered at baseline, at week 7 and at week 14
A screening neuropsychological test assessing cognitive global function. The total score is 30. Higher scores indicate better cognitive performance.
Timed and Up Go Test (TUG)
Time frame: Baseline, week 7, and week 14
TUG test is a simple clinical measure of functional mobility and fall risk. It records the time (in seconds) needed to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, walk back, and sit down. Scores are interpreted as follows: lower times indicate better mobility, with <10 seconds generally considered normal, 10-20 seconds indicating mild mobility impairment, and >20-30 seconds suggesting increased fall risk and functional limitation, depending on clinical context.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. We will share individual participant data (IPD) including baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, outcome measures collected during and after the intervention (e.g., cognitive, functional, and motor assessments), and relevant safety/adverse event data. All shared IPD will be de-identified to ensure participant confidentiality.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Motor Stimulation Treatment in people with Dementia, run by Istituto Superiore di Sanità at 1 site in Italy.
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 2 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jun 2026. 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 Italy. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Ernesto Palummeri (+39 3312627145, ernesto.palummeri@alisa.liguria.it), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) (time frame: The test will be administered at baseline, at week 7 and at week 14). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 4 Jun 2026.