The BRAIN App (Phase 2 SBIR)

Study Summary

There are currently 6.7 million Americans living with dementia and, without significant breakthroughs, this figure will double to 12.7 million by 2050. There are about 46,000 long-term care (LTC) facilities in the U.S. More than half of LTC residents have some form of dementia (Alzheimer's Association, 2018). Responsive behaviors and dysfunction of the dementia care triad-i.e., the PLWD, professional Care Partner (CP), and Family Member (FM)-are inexorably linked. The emergence of responsive behaviors can lead to disruption of the triad's function. Thus, it is imperative to maintain positive relationships and a high quality of life (QoL) within the triad to reduce BPSD. Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) has demonstrated improvements in QoL and relationships for PLWD. CST is a psychosocial intervention that promotes communication and engagement in PLWD via a structured program of meaningful and enjoyable theme. While clinical trials have shown improvement in cognition and QoL, the potential large-scale impact of CST has been hampered by low adherence, with less than 40% completing trials. One likely reason for the low adherence to CST is the reliance on generic and non-digital tools (e.g., paper-based agendas, tools, DVDs, and board games) in facilitating the intervention. That is, even though CST aims to be personalized, the specific interventions used in the field tend to be generic and not tailored to each PLWD's specific interests. The use of digital technology to implement CST would offer considerable advantages to expand and personalize the range of stimulation content and provide a means for monitoring responses, optimizing protocols, and promoting adherence. The proposed Phase II study will involve the continued development and evaluation of a multi-faceted software platform called "Building Relationships using Artificial Intelligence and Nostalgia" or BRAIN. The BRAIN Platform will be the first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered CST digital therapy

Primary Outcome

The Menorah Park Engagement Scale measures four types of engagement. Constructive Engagement, Passive Engagement, Other Engagement, and Non-Engagement. It also measures pleasure. Scores on each type of engagement item range from 0 to 2 with higher scores indicating a better outcome for Constructive Engagement, Passive Engagement, and Pleasure. Higher scores represent worse outcomes for Distracted and Non Engagement.

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• BEHAVIORAL The BRAIN App

Study Locations (1)