Clinical trial NCT06211374: Communication Bridge Pilot Study
Official title: Communication Bridge: Optimizing an Evidence-based Intervention for Individuals With Primary Progressive Aphasia
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Primary Progressive Aphasia
Keywords: Aphasia
Dementia
Communication
Frontotemporal Dementia
Alzheimer Disease
Lead sponsor: University of Chicago
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Western University, Canada
name: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
First posted: 2024-01-18
Enrollment: 12
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 100
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of evidence-based interventions in individuals living with mild to moderate primary progressive aphasia (PPA) that address communication-focused outcomes.

Detailed description: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of evidence-based interventions in individuals living with mild to moderate primary progressive aphasia (PPA) that address communication-focused outcomes. The study team aims to enhance the personal relevance and therapeutic impact of goal attainment scaling (GAS) while building self-efficacy within a self-management framework.

This study will be a continuation of one of the largest non-pharmacologic intervention studies for individuals with PPA to date. It will add critical information regarding the effectiveness of telepractice interventions for communication disorders in adults with primary progressive aphasia specifically, and in dementia more broadly. The goal of this study is to maximize functional communication and life participation for the participants.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria (person with PPA):

1. Meets diagnostic criteria for PPA based on neurologist and supporting medical assessments (extracted from medical records)
2. English as primary language used in daily communication activities (by self-report)
3. Adequate hearing (aided or unaided) for communicating with others in a crowded room (by self-report)
4. Adequate vision (aided or unaided) for reading a newspaper, or other functional materials (by self-report)
5. Able to pass technology screening and demonstrates sufficient knowledge for use of video conference and Communication Bridge™ web application use (with or without training)
6. Geriatric Depression Scale score ≤ 9
7. Mild-moderate PPA informed by a structured interview with a speech-language pathologist and a standardized testing battery.

Inclusion Criteria (Co-enrolled communication partner):

1. 18+ years of age
2. English as primary language used in daily communication activities (by self-report)
3. Adequate hearing (aided or unaided) for communicating with others in a crowded room (by self-report)
4. Able to pass technology screening\* and demonstrates sufficient knowledge for use of video conference and Communication Bridge™ web application use (with or without training)

Exclusion Criteria:

* A dementia diagnosis other than Primary Progressive Aphasia
* Participation is co-enrolled in an outside speech language therapy program during the study course.
* Communication partners will be excluded if they have a pre-existing communication impairment that would affect study participation (e.g., aphasia, dementia) Medical records will be requested and reviewed to determine eligibility

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Communication Participation Person Centered Goals
timeFrame: Time Frame: 2 assessment time points through study completion, an average of 5 months, including change over time
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Chicago
country: United States
facility: University of Chicago - American School Building
state: Illinois
Study officials:
affiliation: Professor of Neurology
name: Emily Roglaski, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: