A computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program based on daily tasks utilising the semantic or perceptual encoding strategies called Enhancing Memory in Daily Life (E-MinD Life) has been developed for Chinese people. The aim of the E-MinD Life is to delay functional deterioration associated with possible cognitive changes in healthy older adults, older adults with memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia. This project will pilot-test the E-MinD Life in Chinese healthy older adults, older adults with memory complaints, MCI and mild dementia.
The objectives of the study are to investigate the feasibility and pilot-test the benefits of the computer-based E-MinD Life (Semantic) or (Perceptual) program to promote everyday performance in healthy older adults, older adults with memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia in Hong Kong using a randomised control trial. Three groups of participants will be recruited: (1) 15 healthy older adults, (2) 15 older adults aged over 65 years with memory complaints, or older adults aged over 65 years, meeting the diagnostic criteria for MCI with a Clinical Dementia Rating score of 0 or having mild dementia with a Clinical Dementia Rating score of 1. All participants will have no depression and other clinical conditions that may affect their cognition. Their scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be recorded. Their carers or family members are invited to participate.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
60
The E-MinD Life programme is designed to teach semantic or perceptual memory strategies. The memory strategies are applied to 12 common daily activities required for community living, e.g. meal preparation, laundry activities, and built into the E-MinD Life programme on a computer-based platform. The intervention runs over 9 weeks with one 45-minute individual face-to-face or online healthcare-professional-led session and two 30-minute, family-assisted home sessions per week. During the home sessions, participants will complete the same activities as those learnt during the healthcare-professional-led sessions. Family members or carers will be invited to join the healthcare-professional-led sessions as observers and support the participants in the home sessions if needed.
Participants will receive stimulation for visual attention and memory through online cognitive activities. The intervention will adopt a similar structure as the E-MinD Life group, with one 45-minute individual face-to-face or online healthcare-professional-led session and two 30-minute, family-assisted home sessions per week for 9 weeks.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Accceptability
Acceptability is measured using a structured questionnaire divided into five sections: (1) the therapist-led group sessions, (2) the self-administered individual sessions, and (3) the computer program interface and iPad usability, (4) the overall program design and structure and (5) overall satisfaction. Participants are invited to give quantitative ratings on four dimensions under each section: (a) perceived effectiveness (e.g., whether the program improved cognitive strategy use), (b) relevance (e.g., how applicable the activities were to daily life), (c) convenience (e.g., ease) and (d) clarity. Responses are collected using a 4-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 "Completely disagree" to 4 "Completely agree," with higher scores indicating greater acceptability.
Time frame: End of the intervention at 9 weeks
Feasibility by measuring the attendance rate
Feasibility by measuring the intervention attendance rate
Time frame: Through the intervention for 9 weeks, attendance at each session
Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease - Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (CERAD-NAB)
The CERAD-NAB provides a profile on cognitive function by assessing cognitive deficits and was validated in a Chinese version. This study will use all subtests, including Verbal Fluency (J1), Boston's Naming (J2), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE, J3), Word List Memory (J4), Constructional Praxis (J5), Word List Recall (J6), Word List Recognition (J7) and Recall of Constructional Praxis (J8). The total score ranges from 0 -115 with a higher score indicating better performance.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 9 weeks
Digit Span Test
The Digit Span Test consists of Digit Span Forward (DSF) and Digit Span Backward (DSB), measures immediate verbal recall, attentional capacity and working memory. The score is the number of digits in the longest successfully recalled sequence. A higher score indicates a better performance.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 9 weeks
Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
The self-reported Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale-Chinese version (IADLS) assesses one's ability to independently perform eight domains of instrumental daily activities such as meal preparation, laundry work, and shopping. The scale consists of nine items, each rated on a 3-point or 4-point scale, with a total score ranging from 0 to 18 or higher. A higher score indicates a better performance
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 9 weeks
Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD)
The Chinese version of the Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) is a survey, completed by a proxy/carer, that evaluates the level of independence in daily activities for a person who has dementia or cognitive impairment. The DAD is scored based on a "yes/no" system, where "yes" indicates the person performed the activity without help, and "no" indicates they did not. The number of "yes" responses is totalled, and then converted to a percentage score out of 100. Higher percentage scores indicate better functional ability.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 9 weeks
EuroQoL- 5 Dimensions - 5 Levels Hong Kong version (EQ-5D-5L_HK)
The EQ-5D-5L HK measures health-related quality of life in five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, using five rating levels (33). The 5-level health status is converted to a utility value, ranging from 0 (death) to 1 (full health). The EQ-5D-5L HK includes a Visual Analogue Scale where respondents rate their overall health on a scale of 0 to 100.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 9 weeks
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