The BRAIN App: Building Relationships Using Artificial Intelligence and Nostalgia (BRAIN)

February 15, 2024 updated by: Hopeful Aging
This study will involve testing of an Alpha version of an app called "Building Relationships using Artificial Intelligence and Nostalgia" or BRAIN. The BRAIN App will be the first -ever artificial intelligence infused CST app for PWD. The app has two main goals: (1) to foster positive relationships between the care triad, and (2) to promote QoL while reducing responsive behaviors in PWD. Testing will examine the app's impact on engagement/affect for both PWD and professional Care Partners.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

A quasi-experimental pretest / posttest design will be used. During a four-week baseline period, researchers will collect data on engagement, quality of life, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and quality of the care-patient relationship. Participants will then use the BRAIN app for four weeks, during which engagement data will be collect. After the intervention period, researchers will collect data again on quality of life, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and quality of the carer-patient relationship.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
45

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Winchester, Massachusetts, United States, 01890
        • The Hearthstone Institute

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

PWD Inclusion Criteria:

  • diagnosed with dementia (any type)
  • resident in ALF or NH
  • 65+ years old
  • read and speak English
  • exhibit at least one responsive behavior on the NPI-NH or score below maximum score on the DEMQOL

PWD Exclusion Criteria:

  • bed-confined
  • completely unable to communicate verbally
  • have serious visual or hearing impairments
  • show signs of rapid decline or over the last six months

Staff and Family Member Inclusion Criteria

  • 18+ years old
  • speak and read English

Staff and Family Member Exclusion Criteria

-n/a

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Treatment
BRAIN Intervention
Behavioral: The BRAIN App
The BRAIN App will be the first-ever artificial intelligence enabled cognitive stimulation therapy app, specifically designed for PWD. The goal of the app is to foster positive relationships between the care triad.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change From Baseline to Treatment for Constructive Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale
Time Frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
Constructive Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale is defined as doing or commenting on something related to the target activity. During baseline, multiple observations of "standard" activities were observed and a mean was calculated. Then, again, during treatment, multiple BRAIN activities were observed and a mean was calculated. The minimum value for Constructive Engagement is zero (0) and the maximum score is two (2). Higher scores represent a better outcome.
Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
Change From Baseline to Treatment for Passive Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale
Time Frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
Passive Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale is defined as listening or watching something related to the target activity. During baseline, multiple observations of "standard" activities were observed and a mean was calculated. Then, again, during treatment, multiple BRAIN activities were observed and a mean was calculated. The minimum value for Passive Engagement is zero (0) and the maximum score is two (2). Lower scores represent a better outcome.
Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
Change From Baseline to Treatment for Other Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale
Time Frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
Other Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale is defined as doing, commenting, listening, or watching something NOT related to the target activity. During baseline, multiple observations of "standard" activities were observed and a mean was calculated. Then, again, during treatment, multiple BRAIN activities were observed and a mean was calculated. The minimum value for Other Engagement is zero (0) and the maximum score is two (2). Lower scores represent a better outcome.
Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
Change From Baseline to Treatment for Non-Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale
Time Frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
Non-Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale is defined as sleeping and/or staring into space. During baseline, multiple observations of "standard" activities were observed and a mean was calculated. Then, again, during treatment, multiple BRAIN activities were observed and a mean was calculated. The minimum value for Non-Engagement is zero (0) and the maximum score is two (2). Lower scores represent a better outcome.
Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
Change From Baseline to Treatment for Pleasure on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale
Time Frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
Pleasure on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale is defined as clearly observable laughing or smiling. During baseline, multiple observations of "standard" activities were observed and a mean was calculated. Then, again, during treatment, multiple BRAIN activities were observed and a mean was calculated. The minimum value for Pleasure is zero (0) and the maximum score is two (2). Lower scores represent a better outcome.
Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
Change From Baseline to Treatment for Positive Items Sub-score on the Engagement of Persons With Dementia Scale (EPWDS)
Time Frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
The Positive Items Sub-score on the EPWDS is the total score for the five following items: (1) Displays positive affect, (2) maintains eye contact, (3) Initiates, participates, or maintains verbal conversation, sounds or gestures (e.g., nodding) in response to the activity, or the materials used, or the person/s involved, (4) Responds to an activity by approaching, reaching out, touching, holding or handling the activity, the material used, or the person/s involved, and (5) Uses the activity or the material/s to encourage others to interact, or as a communication channel to interact and talk with others (e.g., staff and other residents). During baseline, multiple observations of "standard" activities were observed and a mean was calculated for the positive item sub-score. Then, again, during treatment, multiple BRAIN activities were observed and a mean was calculated. The minimum value is 0 and the maximum score is 20. Higher scores represent a better outcome.
Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
Change From Baseline to Treatment for Negative Items Sub-score on the Engagement of Persons With Dementia Scale (EPWDS)
Time Frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)
The Negative Items Sub-score on the EPWDS is the total score for the five following items: (1) Displays negative affect, (2) Appears inattentive, has an unfocused stare or turns head/eyes away from the activity, materials used, or the person/s involved, (3) Refuses to participate in the activity or in a conversation related to the activity by verbalizing e.g. "no", "stop", etc. OR verbalizes negative comment, complaint, and sound in response to or related to the activity, or the materials used, or the person/s involved, and (4) In response to the activity, is distracting or disrupting others (e.g., Staff/facilitator and other residents). During baseline, multiple observations of "standard" activities were observed and a mean was calculated for the negative item sub-score. Then, again, during treatment, multiple observations were taken and mean was calculate. Total score ranges from 0 to 16. Lower scores represent a better outcome.
Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Treatment (Weeks 5-10)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change From Baseline to Treatment on Dementia Related Quality of Life (DEMQOL)
Time Frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Post-Treatment (Week 11)
The Dementia Related Quality of Life Scale is a 28 item scale that examines quality of life in persons with dementia. The score ranges for 28 to 112. Higher scores represent a better outcome.
Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Post-Treatment (Week 11)
Change From Baseline to Treatment on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home (NPI-NH), Frequency x Severity Score (FxS)
Time Frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Post-Treatment (Week 11)
The NPI-NH examines 10 types of neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with dementia, with the FxS score looking creating a composite score that takes into account frequency and severity of the symtoms. The score ranges from 0 to 120. Lower scores represent a better outcome.
Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Post-Treatment (Week 11)
Change From Pre-Test to Post-Test for the Knowledge Assessment for BRAIN Training for Staff
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 1) and Post-Training (Week 5)
Staff took a quiz at pre-test and again at post-test. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing a better outcome
Baseline (Week 1) and Post-Training (Week 5)
Percent of Staff Who Thought Residents Enjoyed BRAIN Activities
Time Frame: Post-Treatment (Week 11)
Staff were asked if they thought residents enjoyed using the BRAIN Activities. The total who said YES was converted into a percentage. Total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing a better outcome.
Post-Treatment (Week 11)
Percent of Staff Who Said They Would Recommend the BRAIN App to Colleagues
Time Frame: Post-Treatment (Week 11)
Staff were asked if they would recommend BRAIN Activities to colleagues. The total who said YES was converted into a percentage. Total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing a better outcome.
Post-Treatment (Week 11)
Percent of Staff Who Said They Thought the BRAIN App Would Improve Quality of Life of Persons With Dementia.
Time Frame: Post-Treatment (Week 11)
Staff were asked if they thought the BRAIN app would improve quality of life of persons with dementia.. The total who said YES was converted into a percentage. Total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing a better outcome.
Post-Treatment (Week 11)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Hopeful Aging

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Michael Skrajner, MA, Hopeful Aging

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 13, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 15, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 10, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 23, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 25, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 13, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 15, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1R43AG071105-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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