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DementiaNCT05159557

In-Home Technology for Caregivers of People With Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Wearables

A study testing In-Home Technology System and Limited In-Home Technology in people with Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment, run by University of California, Berkeley at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study aims to develop, evaluate, and commercialize an in-home supportive technology that is designed to alleviate anxiety, burden, and loneliness in spousal and familial caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or mild cognitive impairment by integrating wearable devices (e.g., Apple… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
In-Home Technology System and Limited In-Home Technology
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
63 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
22 Aug 2022to 25 Mar 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Caregivers are fluent/literate in English
  • Caregivers currently reside in the United States with spouse/family member who has received a medical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, other dementia, or mild cognitive impairment
  • Caregivers primarily use a smartphone (e.g., iPhone, Android)
  • Caregivers have internet and WiFi service

Who cannot join

  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with known non-neurodegenerative conditions affecting behavior and cognition
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with longstanding Axis I psychiatric disorder Caregivers providing care for individuals with metabolic disorder or major organ dysfunction
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with alcohol abuse or dependence (within 5 years of dementia onset)
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with head trauma with loss of consciousness greater than 30 minutes
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with contraindications to MRI imaging
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with large confluent white matter lesions
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals with significant systemic medical illness
  • Caregivers providing care for individuals who use a medication likely to affect central nervous system functions adversely

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of California, Berkeley

    Berkeley, California, 94720

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Commercializing In-Home Supportive Technology for Dementia Caregivers

This study aims to develop, evaluate, and commercialize an in-home supportive technology that is designed to alleviate anxiety, burden, and loneliness in spousal and familial caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or mild cognitive impairment by integrating wearable devices (e.g., Apple Watches).

Read the detailed description

This study aims to develop, refine, evaluate, and commercialize a hardware/software system designed to integrate in-home sensors and devices, Internet-of-Things technologies (i.e., devices that can be controlled and communicated with via the internet), and social networking to create a more safe and supportive home environment for caregivers and people who have Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or mild cognitive impairment. The system monitors troublesome behaviors in people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (e.g., wandering), and targets mechanisms (e.g., worry, social isolation) thought to link behavioral symptoms in people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment with adverse caregiver outcomes (declines in health and well-being). The system is designed to minimize demands on caregivers' limited time and energy and to provide a platform for data collection that can be used by researchers and care professionals.

Hypotheses:

  1. Caregivers in the active treatment condition will have better health and well-being (i.e., less caregiver depression, anxiety, loneliness, and burden) and greater user satisfaction compared to those in the control condition.
  2. The magnitude of the difference in health and well-being benefits for caregivers in the active treatment condition compared to those in the control condition will increase over time (reflecting additional bot learning and adjustment to changing caregiver needs).
  3. In the active treatment condition, greater utilization of features related to warnings (e.g., activating warnings, receiving warnings), social connection (e.g., adding Trusted Circle members), and information (e.g., accessing on-line resources through app) will be associated with greater decreases in depression and anxiety and greater increases in well-being.
Being tested
In-Home Technology System, Limited In-Home Technology
Keywords
Caregivers, Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer's disease, Technology, Wearables
Medical subject headings
Dementia, Cognitive Dysfunction, Alzheimer Disease

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • In-Home Technology SystemDevice

    Intelligent bots monitor the in-home sensors, learn typical patterns, and provide caregivers with text messages and alerts via cell phone when worrisome behaviors occur. Caregivers are able to: (a) select services (e.g., warnings for falls, wandering, late night activity); (b) access daily reports (summaries of daily activities that can also be shared with health care providers); and (c) obtain support (e.g. Caregiver Support Groups that connect caregivers with knowledgeable experts and other caregivers, Caregiver Events that provide virtual meetings about relevant topics, and Trusted Circle task management to distribute the caregiving work load).

  • Limited In-Home TechnologyDevice

    Intelligent bots monitor the in-home water leak sensor and provide caregivers with text messages and alerts via cell phone when worrisome conditions occur.

Study groups in NCT05159557
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
In-Home Technology SystemExperimentalThe full system [(a) 1 gateway that connects with home internet to communicate/control the equipment; (b) 5 indoor motion sensors; (c) 3 door/cabinet entry sensors; (d) 1 water leak sensor; (e) 1 "call for help" button; (f) 2 motion-activated LED night lights; (g) 1 Apple Watch to detect falls and activity outside the home] will be self-installed by 60 caregivers in their homes. Monitoring of sensors, provision of warnings, messaging, and social networking features will be activated remotely for those participants who have been randomly assigned to this arm. Participation will extend over a 6 month period with questionnaires (e.g., health and well-being) administered 3 times (at the time of installation and every 3 months thereafter).
Receives: Device: In-Home Technology System
Limited In-Home Technology SystemSham comparatorThe full system [(a) 1 gateway that connects with home internet to communicate/control the equipment; (b) 5 indoor motion sensors; (c) 3 door/cabinet entry sensors; (d) 1 water leak sensor; (e) 1 "call for help" button; (f) 2 motion-activated LED night lights], with the exception of the Apple Watch that those in the experimental condition receive will be self-installed by 60 caregivers in their homes. Only monitoring of the water leak and associated warnings will be activated remotely for those participants who have been randomly assigned to this limited (sham comparator) arm.
Receives: Device: Limited In-Home Technology

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. 3 Months Assessment for Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)

    Questionnaire to measure depression (Radloff, 1977). 20 items are rated on a 0-3 scale and summed (range = 0-60). There are no subscales. Higher scores represent worse outcomes. The clinical cut-off is usually set at a score of 16.

    Measured: 3 months after baseline

  2. 6 Months Assessment for Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)

    Questionnaire to measure depression (Radloff, 1977). 20 items are rated on a 0-3 scale and summed (range = 0-60). There are no subscales. Higher scores represent worse outcomes. The clinical cut-off is usually set at a score of 16.

    Measured: 6 months after baseline

  3. 3 Months Assessment for Zarit Burden Interview-Short Form

    Questionnaire to measure caregiver burden (Zarit, Reever, \& Bach-Peterson, 1980). 12 items are rated on 0-4 scale. Range: 0-48. No subscales. Higher scores represent worse outcomes.

    Measured: 3 months after baseline

  4. 6 Months Assessment for Zarit Burden Interview-Short Form

    Questionnaire to measure caregiver burden (Zarit, Reever, \& Bach-Peterson, 1980). 12 items are rated on 0-4 scale. Range: 0-48. No subscales. Higher scores represent worse outcomes.

    Measured: 6 months after baseline

  5. 3 Months Assessment for Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)

    Questionnaire to measure anxiety (Beck, Epstein, Brown, \& Steer, 1988). 20 items are rated on a 0-3 scale and summed (range= 0-60). Higher scores indicate worse outcomes. There are no subscales. A score greater than 36 is considered to be clinically significant.

    Measured: 3 months after baseline

  6. 6 Months Assessment for Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)

    Questionnaire to measure anxiety (Beck, Epstein, Brown, \& Steer, 1988). 20 items are rated on a 0-3 scale and summed (range= 0-60). Higher scores indicate worse outcomes. There are no subscales. A score greater than 36 is considered to be clinically significant.

    Measured: 6 months after baseline

  7. 3 Months Assessment for Satisfaction With Life Scale

    Questionnaire measuring overall life satisfaction and well-being (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, \& Griffin, 1985). 5 items scored on a 1-7 scale and summed (Range = 5-35). Lower scores indicate worse outcomes. A score of 20 is considered neutral with higher scores considered increasingly more satisfied and lower scores considered increasingly more dissatisfied.

    Measured: 3 months after baseline

  8. 6 Months Assessment for Satisfaction With Life Scale

    Questionnaire measuring overall life satisfaction and well-being (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, \& Griffin, 1985). 5 items scored on a 1-7 scale and summed (Range = 5-35). Lower scores indicate worse outcomes. A score of 20 is considered neutral with higher scores considered increasingly more satisfied and lower scores considered increasingly more dissatisfied.

    Measured: 6 months after baseline

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Dec 2021
  2. Study start22 Aug 2022
  3. Primary completion25 Mar 2024
  4. Study completion25 Mar 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Investigator
Enrolment
63 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05159557
Sponsor's protocol ID
1247267250000-4
Other IDs
2SB1AG059458-04A1
Status last verified
Sep 2025
First submitted
2 Dec 2021
Last updated
17 Sep 2025
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Because health and other protected data are involved, we need to consult with our institutional review board and other collaborators concerning which data can be shared.

Publications

  • Chen KH, Wells JL, Otero MC, Lwi SJ, Haase CM, Levenson RW. Greater Experience of Negative Non-Target Emotions by Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases Is Related to Lower Emotional Well-Being in Caregivers. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2017;44(5-6):245-255. doi: 10.1159/000481132. Epub 2017 Dec 8.

    PubMed 29216633
  • Lwi SJ, Ford BQ, Casey JJ, Miller BL, Levenson RW. Poor caregiver mental health predicts mortality of patients with neurodegenerative disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Jul 11;114(28):7319-7324. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1701597114. Epub 2017 Jun 27.

    PubMed 28655841
  • Otero MC, Levenson RW. Lower Visual Avoidance in Dementia Patients Is Associated with Greater Psychological Distress in Caregivers. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2017;43(5-6):247-258. doi: 10.1159/000468146. Epub 2017 Apr 11.

    PubMed 28395276
  • Brown CL, Lwi SJ, Goodkind MS, Rankin KP, Merrilees J, Miller BL, Levenson RW. Empathic Accuracy Deficits in Patients with Neurodegenerative Disease: Association with Caregiver Depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018 Apr;26(4):484-493. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2017.10.012. Epub 2017 Dec 27.

    PubMed 29289452

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing In-Home Technology System and Limited In-Home Technology in people with Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment, run by University of California, Berkeley at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 7 Jan 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

3 Months Assessment for Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) (time frame: 3 months after baseline). The study lists 8 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05159557, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Sep 2025.

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