Community-based Multi-domain Intervention to Detect and Delay Cognitive Decline in Community-dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Study

Launched by SINGAPORE GENERAL HOSPITAL · Jul 24, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring a community-based program designed to help detect and slow down memory and thinking problems in older adults living at home. The study focuses on people aged 60 and above who have concerns about their memory or thinking abilities but do not have a diagnosis of serious dementia. The goal is to see if this multi-part approach—likely including activities for the brain, physical exercises, and support for caregivers—can be carried out successfully in the community and help maintain mental health in older adults.

To join the study, older adults need to be 60 or older, speak English or Mandarin, and be able to participate in all study activities without major physical disabilities. Caregivers and service providers who support these older adults may also take part if they meet certain language and experience criteria. Participants can expect to be involved in activities that aim to keep their minds active and delay any worsening of memory problems, with support from trained volunteers and professionals. This trial has not started recruiting yet, but it hopes to create a practical and accessible program to benefit both older adults and their caregivers in everyday community settings.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion Criteria
• Older Adults:
• • 60 years and older with cognitive concerns or (self-reported or observer reported),
• • English and/or Mandarin speaking,
• • no physical disabilities that preclude study participation,
• • willing to complete all study-related activities,
• • no known diagnosis of major cognitive impairment,
• • able to provide consent.
• Caregivers:
• • 21 years and older,
• • English and/or Mandarin speaking,
• • able to provide consent
• • have at least 6-month experience of taking care of older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
• Service providers:
• • 21 years and older,
• • English and/or Mandarin speaking,
• • able to provide consent.
• Youth Volunteers:
• • volunteers from Youth Corps Singapore (YCS)
• • English and/or Mandarin speaking,
• • able to provide assent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Older adults
• • Known diagnosis of moderate dementia and above,
• • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score \<18,
• • Has difficulty in basic activities of daily living,
• • disorders that affects safe engagement in the intervention (e.g. symptomatic cardiovascular disease, revascularization within 1 year, major depression or anxiety with ongoing treatment, underlying malignancy),
• • Severe vision or hearing impairment or any other disorders preventing cooperation as judged by the study team,
• • Major illness with life expectancy \<6 months,
• • Institutionalized,
• • Planned major surgery within the duration of the multi-domain intervention,
• • Physical disabilities that preclude study participation.
• Caregivers:
• • aged below 21 years old,
• • not being the primary family caregiver of at least one older individual,
• • not being able to read, write, and converse in English/Mandarin,
• • their family members (older adults) have not participated in the pilot test for at least one month (1 session of cognitive activity/week, 2 sessions of physical activity/week).
• Care providers:
• • not working for the older population,
• • Not being able to read, write, and converse in English/Mandarin,
• • have not provided service during the period of the pilot test for at least one month (1 session of cognitive activity/week, 2 sessions of physical activity/week).