Trial results for the "Technology and Family Thriving Study" investigating Alzheimer's Disease and dementia were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-07-15, with 186 participants enrolled.
Background
Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (ADRD) significantly impact the quality of life for older adults and can contribute to caregiver burnout. Maintaining family relationships and mental health wellness is crucial for both patients and their distant adult children. This study explored the potential of different technological interventions, specifically virtual reality and video chat, to enhance quality of life and strengthen family connections in older adults residing in senior living communities. The research also aimed to understand how varying levels of cognitive impairment might influence responses to these technologies and overall quality of life outcomes.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 186 participants. The trial investigated conditions including Alzheimer Disease, Dementia, Caregiver Burnout, Quality of Life, and Mental Health Wellness 1. The study tested the impact of different forms of technology, specifically virtual reality versus video chat, on quality of life and family relationships in older adults and their distant adult children.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements related to changes from baseline in older adults:
- Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) - Changes From Baseline (Older Adult) (score on a scale):
- For the MCI Group/Video Chat, a mean change of 3.04 (Standard Deviation 0.41) was observed.
- For the MCI Group/Virtual Reality, a mean change of 3.00 (Standard Deviation 0.48) was observed.
- For the ADRD Group/Video Chat, a mean change of 2.85 (Standard Deviation 0.49) was observed.
- For the ADRD Group/Virtual Reality, a mean change of 2.94 (Standard Deviation 0.44) was observed.
- For the MCI Group/Video Chat, a mean change of 3.08 (Standard Deviation 0.36) was observed.
- For the MCI Group/Virtual Reality, a mean change of 2.98 (Standard Deviation 0.51) was observed.
- For the ADRD Group/Video Chat, a mean change of 2.91 (Standard Deviation 0.44) was observed.
- For the ADRD Group/Virtual Reality, a mean change of 3.07 (Standard Deviation 0.38) was observed.
- Brief Inventory of Thriving (BIT) - Changes From Baseline (Older Adult) (score on a scale):
- For the MCI Group/Video Chat, a mean change of 3.97 (Standard Deviation 0.59) was observed.
- For the MCI Group/Virtual Reality, a mean change of 3.90 (Standard Deviation 0.58) was observed.
- For the ADRD Group/Video Chat, a mean change of 3.63 (Standard Deviation 0.65) was observed.
- For the ADRD Group/Virtual Reality, a mean change of 3.69 (Standard Deviation 0.56) was observed.
What this means
The posted results provide initial data on the impact of technology, specifically virtual reality and video chat, on quality of life and thriving for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (ADRD). The reported mean changes from baseline for both QOL-AD and BIT scores across different groups suggest varying degrees of positive shifts. While specific comparative analyses or statistical significance are not provided in this data, these measurements offer insights into how different technological interventions might influence well-being and family connections in this population, laying groundwork for further research into supportive technologies for dementia care.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT05150990, titled "Technology and Family Thriving Study", were posted on 2025-07-15 on clinicaltrials.gov.