Effects of Visual Art Training on Dementia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the proposed study is to better understand what benefits visual art has on reducing problematic symptoms in dementia patients, including those with Alzheimer's disease.

Detailed Description
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Participants: Participants will be residents, attendees and/or members of assisted living locations and/or dementia (or related) day programs. There will be two groups: an art training group and a waitlist control group. Data Analysis: For primary measures, t-tests on pre-post difference scores comparing art training and waitlist groups. For possible confounding effects, tests for confounds related to background factors (socioeconomic status, education level, gender, activity participation). Procedure: A randomized controlled trial design will be utilized to assess two groups of dementia patients: an art training experimental group and a structured usual-activity waitlist control group. The experimental group will participate in a visual art training program and the waitlist control group will participate in their usual structured group activities. The waitlist control group will receive the art training program once post-testing is complete. Before, during, and/or after the art programs and/or control activities, participants will be observed and complete assessments.

Official Title
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Effects of Visual Art Training on Dementia

Conditions
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Dementia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Visual Arts Training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Dementia Exclusion Criteria: Inability to participate in the art training program due to physical or cognitive limitations

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Visual Arts Training<br>Visual Arts Training | Behavioral: Visual Arts Training<br>* The art training program has been designed as a drawing program and focuses on basic visual art concepts (the elements [e.g., colour and line] and principles [e.g., proportion and balance] of design). Each week has a different activity and a different focus (one activity per week focusing on one element and principle of design). Each art training program will occur one hour per day, two days per week, for eight weeks. The art training program will take place at the participants' respective dementia care location in an area separate from waitlist control participants and uninvolved clients. All art programs are free for participants.<br>|
| No Intervention: Waitlist Control<br>Waitlist Control | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in cognition | Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; Nasreddine, 2005) | baseline up to three weeks prior, and final assessment one to two weeks post-intervention | 
| Change in visual working memory | Body Part Pointing Test (Stopford et al., 2010) | baseline up to three weeks prior, and final assessment one to two weeks post-intervention | 
| Change in auditory working memory | Digit Span (Weschler, 2008) | baseline up to three weeks prior, and final assessment one to two weeks post-intervention |