Trial results for the MEMORI Corps intervention in Alzheimer's Disease were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-01-28, involving 175 participants.
Background
Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia are progressive neurological conditions that significantly impact cognitive function, behavior, and the ability to perform daily activities. These conditions often lead to increased neuropsychiatric symptoms and a decline in quality of life for persons with dementia (PWD), while also placing substantial burden on caregivers. Effective care models are crucial for supporting community-living individuals with dementia and their families. The MEMORI Corps intervention is an activity-based companion care model designed to provide regular companionship and personalized activities, delivered virtually by trained volunteer Companion Guides, aiming to improve outcomes for both PWD and their caregivers.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 175 participants with conditions including Alzheimer Disease and Dementia. The trial adapted the Making Engagement Meaningful through Organized Routine Interaction (MEMORI) Corps intervention for a virtual delivery format. This two-arm, randomized controlled trial evaluated the intervention's acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy against an augmented waitlist control. The MEMORI Corps model provides companionship and personalized activities to community-living persons with dementia through trained volunteer Companion Guides.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements assessing changes in neuropsychiatric symptoms, quality of life, caregiver burden, and loneliness for both persons with dementia and their caregivers:
- Change in Neuropsychiatric Symptoms as Assessed by Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Score (score on a scale):
- Active Intervention: A mean change of 3.35 (Standard Deviation 11.14) was observed.
- Control: A mean change of 0.47 (Standard Deviation 6.10) was observed.
- Change in Quality of Life as Assessed by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) Tool (units on a scale):
- Active Intervention: A mean change of 0.21 (Standard Deviation 3.44) was observed.
- Control: A mean change of -0.44 (Standard Deviation 4.97) was observed.
- Change in Subjective Caregiver Burden as Assessed by the Zarit Burden Inventory-Short Form (units on a scale):
- Active Intervention: A mean change of 0.04 (Standard Deviation 4.84) was observed.
- Control: A mean change of -0.69 (Standard Deviation 5.84) was observed.
- Change in Depressive Symptoms in Caregivers as Assessed by The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) - 8 (units on a scale):
- Active Intervention: A mean change of 0.38 (Standard Deviation 3.97) was observed.
- Control: A mean change of 0.59 (Standard Deviation 2.97) was observed.
- Change in Perceived Loneliness as Measured by UCLA 3 Loneliness Scale (units on a scale) for persons with dementia:
- Active Intervention: A mean change of 0.20 (Standard Deviation 1.86) was observed.
- Control: A mean change of -0.42 (Standard Deviation 1.07) was observed.
- Change in Perceived Loneliness for Caregiver as Measured by UCLA 3 Loneliness Scale (units on a scale):
- Active Intervention: A mean change of -0.39 (Standard Deviation 1.23) was observed.
- Control: A mean change of 0.10 (Standard Deviation 1.71) was observed.
What this means
The preliminary efficacy data from the MEMORI Corps trial presents a mixed picture regarding its impact on persons with dementia and their caregivers. While the active intervention group showed a slight improvement in Quality of Life for PWD (mean change of 0.21 vs. -0.44 for control), they also experienced a greater increase in neuropsychiatric symptoms (mean change of 3.35 vs. 0.47 for control) and perceived loneliness (mean change of 0.20 vs. -0.42 for control). For caregivers, the intervention appeared to reduce depressive symptoms (mean change of 0.38 vs. 0.59 for control) and perceived loneliness (mean change of -0.39 vs. 0.10 for control), but showed a slight increase in subjective caregiver burden (mean change of 0.04 vs. -0.69 for control). These findings suggest that while the virtual activity-based companion care model may offer some benefits, particularly for caregiver well-being, its effects on PWD outcomes like neuropsychiatric symptoms and loneliness warrant further investigation.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03896711, titled "MEMORI Corps: Activity-based Companion Care for Dementia", were posted on 2026-01-28 on clinicaltrials.gov.