Effects of Comprehensive Community Support Programs on Cognitive Function and Quality of Life in Older Adults

THE EFFECTS OF COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AND QUALITY OF LIFE: THE VEFAHANE MODEL

This prospective observational study aims to investigate the effects of a multidomain community-based support program on cognitive function and quality of life in older adults attending the Vefahane Life Center in Istanbul, Türkiye. The study will compare elderly individuals actively participating in community-based social, cognitive, physical, and supportive activities with individuals registered at the center but not actively participating during the study period. Participants will undergo neuropsychological and psychosocial assessments at baseline and after 3 months. The primary outcome is change in global cognitive performance measured by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Secondary outcomes include memory, executive functions, depression, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and quality of life measures.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Quality of Life; Aging; Cognitive Decline
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Multidomain Community Support Program

Detailed Description

Dementia is a growing global public health concern associated with aging populations worldwide. Recent evidence suggests that multidomain lifestyle interventions targeting modifiable risk factors may help preserve cognitive function and reduce dementia risk in older adults. Community-based support programs that combine cognitive, physical, social, and supportive activities may provide sustainable and culturally adaptable approaches for healthy aging.

This prospective non-interventional observational study aims to evaluate the effects of the Vefahane Life Center multidomain support model on cognitive functions and quality of life in older adults aged 60 years and above. The study will be conducted in elderly individuals registered at the Vefahane Life Center in Bağcılar, Istanbul.

Participants actively attending center-based activities will constitute the intervention/exposure group, while individuals registered at the center but not actively participating during the study period will serve as controls. Assessments will be performed at baseline and after 3 months.

The multidomain program includes social, cognitive, physical, cultural, artistic, educational, and supportive services tailored to individual preferences. Available activities include handicrafts, music, painting, physical exercise, cognitive games, language courses, hobby workshops, and psychosocial support services.

Cognitive and psychosocial outcomes will be evaluated using standardized instruments including the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire (SMCQ), Trail Making Test (A+B), Verbal Memory Processes Test, Clock Drawing Test, Boston Naming Test, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (QOL-AD), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR), and CAIDE dementia risk assessment.

The primary objective of the study is to investigate changes in global cognitive performance. Secondary objectives include evaluation of memory, executive functions, depressive symptoms, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and quality of life outcomes associated with participation in the multidomain community support program.

The study is considered minimal risk because it involves non-invasive assessments and routine community-based activities.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 120

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Lütfü Hanoğlu; Phone Number: 905324868048; Email: lhanoglu@kure.com.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Bagcılar
    • Istanbul, Bagcılar, Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Recruiting
      • Vefahane Life Center, Bagcilar Municipality
      • Contact: Lutfu Hanoglu, MD; Phone Number: 905324868048; Email: lhanoglu@kure.com.tr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and above registered at the Vefahane Life Center in Bağcılar, Istanbul, Türkiye. Participants include individuals actively participating in multidomain community-based activities and age-compatible individuals registered at the center but not actively participating during the study period.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Elderly individuals aged 60 and over who attend or will attend Vefahane Life Center
• Able to cooperate,
• Individuals who speak Turkish
• Individuals who are literate

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals previously diagnosed with dementia,

  • Individuals with neurological and psychiatric diagnoses that affect cognitive skills,
  • Individuals receiving occupational therapy interventions aimed at improving cognitive skills within the center,
  • Individuals with illnesses that prevent participation in the activity program (cancer, cardiovascular instability, etc.),
  • Individuals with severe visual and hearing loss that hinders communication.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Active Participation Group; Older adults actively participating in multidomain community-based activities and supportive services provided at the Vefahane Life Center.	Behavioral: Multidomain Community Support Program; Participants in the exposure group will attend multidomain community-based activities and supportive services provided at the Vefahane Life Center according to their individual preferences. Available activities include cognitive, social, physical, cultural, artistic, educational, and supportive programs such as handicrafts, music, painting, physical exercise, cognitive games, language courses, hobby workshops, psychosocial support, occupational therapy, and counseling services. Participation frequency and attendance will be prospectively recorded throughout the study period.
Non-Participating Control Group; Older adults registered at the Vefahane Life Center but not actively participating in the available activities during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in global cognitive performance measured by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)	The primary outcome is the change in MMSE score between baseline and 3-month follow-up assessments in older adults participating in the multidomain community support program compared with controls.	Baseline and 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istanbul Medipol University Hospital
• Collaborators: Vefahane Bağcılar

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 20, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 20, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 20, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: older adults; cognitive function; aging; cognitive rehabilitation; social participation; social wellbeing; community-based intervention
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Other Study ID Numbers: IMU_Vefa

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