NCT01571427

Conversations as a Means to Delay the Onset of Alzheimer's Disease

Conversational Engagement as a Means to Delay Alzheimer's Disease Onset

• Status: Completed
• Phase: EARLY_Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 83 (actual)
• Sponsor: Oregon Health and Science University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Past epidemiological studies have demonstrated that larger social networks, or more frequent social interactions, could have potential protective effects on the incidence of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, in those studies, indicators of social interactions were often broad, and included distinct elements that affected cognition and overall health. This project will examine whether conversation-based cognitive stimulation has positive effects on domain-specific cognitive functions among the elderly. Face-to-face communication will be conducted through the use of personal computers, webcams, and user-friendly simple interactive Internet programs to allow participants to have social engagement while staying at their home and also for the cost effective execution of the study.

Detailed description

Participants are randomized into the control group (weekly 10 minutes phone check-in only) or experimental group (30 minutes daily video chat with standardized/trained conversational staff). User-friendly equipment and internet are provided.

Conditions

• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Cognitive Change

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Active social engagement group	Engage in 30 minutes conversation daily using internet/webcam, 5 days per week for 6 weeks, tracking of daily conversational amount outside of the trial by using a digital recording device, lasting effects will be assessed at the 3rd and 6th month after completion of the intervention
BEHAVIORAL	Control group	No active intervention, weekly phone calls by interviewer to complete health/social engagement monitoring survey, tracking of daily conversational amount by using a digital recording device. Participants will be reassessed at the 3rd and 6th month after completion of the intervention.

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-02-01
• Primary completion: 2013-09-01
• Completion: 2013-09-01
• First posted: 2012-04-05
• Last updated: 2020-02-05
• Results posted: 2019-04-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States