Craponne Sur Arzon

Researchers are investigating whether adding dance classes twice a week for four months can reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in older adults living in institutions, compared to usual care. Dementia affects a significant portion of people over 65, with behavioral problems being a common and challenging symptom. While no cure exists for dementia, physical activities like dance, which combine movement, cognition, and social interaction, may help improve symptoms and quality of life. Previous studies suggest dance may benefit cognition and behavior, but high-quality evidence is lacking, motivating this study called the APAISE project. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group will attend dance therapy sessions with a professional dancer twice weekly for four months, then return to their usual activities. The control group will continue their usual nursing home activities for the first four months and then receive dance sessions led by a nurse trained by the dancer. This design allows comparison of the effects of early dance intervention versus delayed introduction. Throughout the study, researchers will assess participants' behavioral symptoms using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) over the four-month period. They will monitor changes in symptoms to evaluate the impact of dance therapy compared to usual care. The study includes elderly institutionalized patients with measurable behavioral issues who can participate in upper body movement. Consent from patients or legal representatives is required, and the study monitors safety and adherence during the intervention period.

This research aims to find out if ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) devices can reduce serious respiratory infections in elderly people living in nursing homes. The study is conducted in 12 nursing homes in central France, starting in October 2024, with results expected by mid-2026. It focuses on whether active UVGI devices lower the number of severe respiratory infections that require oxygen therapy, hospitalization, or cause death. The nursing homes will have UVGI devices installed in common areas like dining rooms and lounges. These devices can be turned off by installing an invisible filter, and the process will be done by a technical team without the knowledge of care staff or researchers. Nursing homes will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will have the devices active for the first 7-month period and deactivated for the second 7-month period, while the other group will have the opposite schedule. These two 7-month periods will occur over two consecutive years from October 1 to April 30, separated each year by a 5-month wash-out period when all devices are off. Participants include all residents in the nursing homes at the start or who move in during the study periods. Researchers will track the incidence of severe upper and lower respiratory infections from enrollment through 19 months later. The study monitors infections leading to serious outcomes and compares the effects of active versus inactive UVGI devices during the study periods. Privacy preferences of residents who do not want their data used will be respected.