Resilient Together for Dementia

Launched by ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · May 14, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The "Resilient Together for Dementia" trial is studying a new support program designed to help people recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, along with their caregivers or partners. The goal of the program is to reduce emotional stress and improve quality of life for both members of the dyad during the early stages of the disease. This program will be conducted through live video sessions, making it accessible and convenient for participants.

To be eligible for the study, participants must have received a diagnosis of dementia within the past month, be in the early stages of the disease, and live together with a partner who is experiencing significant emotional stress. Both partners should be at least 18 years old and speak English. If you decide to participate, you can expect to engage in supportive video sessions that focus on building resilience and coping strategies. It's important to know that the study team will assess whether participants are suitable for this program based on their medical history and current health status.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• PWD inclusion criteria are:
• • Recent (\~1 month) chart documented ADRD diagnosis,
• • ADRD symptom onset after age 65 ,
• • cognitive assessment scores and symptoms consistent with early stage dementia, as determined by the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale scores of .5 or 1.0
• • cognitive awareness of his/her problems (as determined by the treating neurologist), and
• • ability to understand study and research protocol, as determined by a standardized teach-back method assessment84.
• Additional inclusion criteria for dyads are:
• • English speaking adults (18 years or older),
• • dyad lives together,
• • at least one partner endorses clinically significant emotional distress during screening (\>7 on Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale subscales)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • patient is deemed inappropriate by the neurology team,
• • either partner has a co-occurring terminal illness,
• • patient was diagnosed with forms of dementia with clinical profiles that would preclude participation (e.g., Frontotemporal Dementia- behavioral variant), as determined by treatment team.

Trial Officials