Development and Testing of a Dyadic Empowerment-based Sport Stacking Program to Improve Health Outcomes of People With Mild Dementia and Their Family Caregivers

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating an 18-week dyadic empowerment-based sport stacking program designed to improve health outcomes for people with mild dementia and their family caregivers. This program aims to enhance cognitive function, reduce cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms, decrease depressive symptoms, and improve health-related quality of life for both patients and caregivers. The study also examines the impact on the relationship quality between the care dyads compared to usual care. The intervention includes two phases: an active phase lasting 12 weeks and a maintenance phase lasting 6 weeks. During the active phase, care dyads participate in three small-group online sessions and three check-up/support sessions, alongside self-practice at home for at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week. The maintenance phase involves three additional online sessions and continued self-practice following the same schedule. Participants in the control group receive basic education on dementia caregiving through three group-based online meetings aligned with the intervention group's schedule. Participants will be assessed at baseline, 12 weeks, and 18 weeks for health-related quality of life, global cognition, and relationship quality. Additional evaluations include memory function, processing speed, executive function, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, expressed emotion, caregiver burden, and compliance with sport stacking practice. The study is randomized and single-blinded, with ongoing monitoring of participant adherence and progress throughout the study period.

Dyadic Sport Stacking Program for Mild Dementia and Their Family Caregivers