BrainLive Connect: Volunteer Training Programme

NCT07544875 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: EA250765b
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 180
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this mixed method clinical trial is to evaluate whether BrainLive Coach training can enhance knowledge, skills, and wellbeing among young old volunteers. The main question it aims to answer are:

• Participate in either 80-90 hours of BrainLive Coach training followed by volunteering in BrainLive Connect or receive educational materials on dementia and cognitive health.
• Complete assessments at baseline (T0) and post intervention (T1) on dementia knowledge, competence in dementia care, self-efficacy, attitudes to dementia, quality of life, and social capital.
• Qualitative study participants • Take part in individual interviews or focus groups, including trained volunteers, and NGO staff, to explore perceived impacts, mechanisms, implementation facilitators/barriers, and areas for improvement.

Conditions

Healthy Adults Aged 50 and Over

Keywords

Dementia; Cognitive Stimulation Therapy; Volunteer-led intervention; Young-old volunteers; BrainLive Connect; Sense of competence

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool (DKAT)

  Possible range: 0 - 21, with higher scores indicate better knowledge

  Baseline (T0) and 3 months after start of CST training (T1)

• Sense of Competence in Dementia Care (SCIDC)

  Possible range: 17 - 68, with higher scores indicate better sense of competence in dementia care

  Baseline (T0) and 3 months after start of CST training (T1)

• Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire (ADQ)

  Possible range: 19 - 95, with higher scores indicate more positive and person-centered attitude

  Baseline (T0) and 3 months after start of CST training (T1)

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• The Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6)

  Baseline (T0) and 3 months after start of CST training (T1)

• QoL: 8-item WHO quality of life scale

  Baseline (T0) and 3 months after start of CST training (T1)

• The General Self-Efficacy Scale

  Baseline (T0) and 3 months after start of CST training (T1)

• Bidirectional Social Support (2-Way SSS)

  Baseline (T0) and 3 months after start of CST training (T1)

• Sense of belonging

  Baseline (T0) and 3 months after start of CST training (T1)

Study Arms (2)

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) trained volunteers

EXPERIMENTAL

Intervention group volunteers receive comprehensive CST training

Behavioral: BrainLive Coach training

Non-cognitive stimulation therapy trained volunteers

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Control group volunteers receive dementia-related educational materials

Other: Other intervention

Interventions

BrainLive Coach training BEHAVIORAL

Volunteers will be trained, supervised and supported to deliver one of three modes of CST (Exercise-enhanced CST, Home2Community CST, Living CST). Basic level training covering topics fundamental to dementia education and common across different CST modes to all recruited volunteers; and then advanced level training covering knowledge and skills specific to each CST mode and service settings.

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) trained volunteers

Other intervention OTHER

Volunteers will receive dementia-related educational materials

Non-cognitive stimulation therapy trained volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Hong Kong residents
• Aged 50 and over
• Had education level of Form 3 or above
• Fluent in Cantonese
• Able to read and write Chinese

You may not qualify if:

• Unable to communicate and participate in interviews/training/intervention due to hearing impairment, visual impairment, or other conditions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead
• Simon K.Y.Lee Foundation: collaborator
• Yang Memorial Methodist Social Service: collaborator
• Christian Family Service Centre: collaborator
• Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

Related Publications (7)

• Groot C, Hooghiemstra AM, Raijmakers PG, van Berckel BN, Scheltens P, Scherder EJ, van der Flier WM, Ossenkoppele R. The effect of physical activity on cognitive function in patients with dementia: A meta-analysis of randomized control trials. Ageing Res Rev. 2016 Jan;25:13-23. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2015.11.005. Epub 2015 Nov 28.

  PMID: 26607411 BACKGROUND

• Knapp M, Bauer A, Wittenberg R, Comas-Herrera A, Cyhlarova E, Hu B, Jagger C, Kingston A, Patel A, Spector A, Wessel A, Wong G. What are the current and projected future cost and health-related quality of life implications of scaling up cognitive stimulation therapy? Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2022 Jan;37(1). doi: 10.1002/gps.5633. Epub 2021 Oct 15.

  PMID: 34613622 BACKGROUND

• Knapp M, Thorgrimsen L, Patel A, Spector A, Hallam A, Woods B, Orrell M. Cognitive stimulation therapy for people with dementia: cost-effectiveness analysis. Br J Psychiatry. 2006 Jun;188:574-80. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.105.010561.

  PMID: 16738349 BACKGROUND

• Dementia: Assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2018 Jun. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513207/

  PMID: 30011160 BACKGROUND

• Ryan S, Brady O. Cognitive stimulation and activities of daily living for individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia: A scoping review. Br J Occup Ther. 2023 Aug;86(8):540-559. doi: 10.1177/03080226231156517. Epub 2023 Mar 15.

  PMID: 40337614 BACKGROUND

• Toh HM, Ghazali SE, Subramaniam P. The Acceptability and Usefulness of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Older Adults with Dementia: A Narrative Review. Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2016;2016:5131570. doi: 10.1155/2016/5131570. Epub 2016 Jul 11.

  PMID: 27478677 BACKGROUND

• Desai R, Leung WG, Fearn C, John A, Stott J, Spector A. Effectiveness of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for mild to moderate dementia: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of randomised control trials using the original CST protocol. Ageing Res Rev. 2024 Jun;97:102312. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102312. Epub 2024 Apr 16.

  PMID: 38636561 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dementia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Shiyu LU, PhD

  The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

JACKY CP CHOY, PhD

CONTACT

39170079; cpchoy@hku.hk

Shiyu LU, PhD

CONTACT

39172074; sylu@hku.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant Professor

Model Details: The BrainLive Connect Model will be delivered by trained "young-old" volunteers, whom the investigators refer to as BrainLive Volunteers. Their participation enhances the delivery of the model and fosters social connections and promotes active ageing among the volunteers themselves. Volunteers will be trained, supervised and supported to deliver CST. Basic level training will cover topics fundamental to dementia education and common across different CST modes for all recruited volunteers, followed by advanced level training covering knowledge and skills specific to each CST mode and service settings.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 8, 2026
• First Posted: April 22, 2026
• Study Start: February 13, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 10, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 10, 2027
• Last Updated: April 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: Anonymised data will be available after the first manuscript using the study data is published.
• Access Criteria: Anonymised data will be available upon request.

Locations

HK (1)