Using Equine Therapy in Dementia Cognitive Stimulation

Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, Politécnico e Universitário36 enrolled

Overview

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Dementia

Interventions

Equine assisted therapy memory workshopsOTHER

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).

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Cognitive Function as Assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

Pre and post-intervention period, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to assess cognitive function.

Time frame: Baseline and ten weeks after

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Depression Symptoms as Assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15)

Assessment of depression levels pre and post-intervention using the Geriatric Depression Scale - 15 items

Time frame: Baseline and ten weeks after

Change in Quality of Life as Assessed by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD NH)

Assessment of the quality of life pre and post intervention using the Quality of life in Alzheimer's Disease - Nursing homes .

Time frame: Baseline and ten weeks after

Using Equine Therapy in Dementia Cognitive Stimulation

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes