Mindfulness-based Movement Therapy for Persons With Dementia and Family Caregivers

NCT07859865 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2306009949
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel intervention, the CARE-MOVE program, which combines mindfulness-based dance/movement therapy (M-DMT), psychoeducation, and a support group for dementia care partners. The study also aims to provide proof of concept for the potential effects of the intervention on reducing stress, improving psychological well-being, and enhancing the caregiving relationship.

Conditions

Dementia Caregiver

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Intervention Adherence

  Intervention adherence will be assessed as the percentage of enrolled participants who attend at least 8 of the 10 CARE-MOVE sessions. The prespecified feasibility benchmark is that more than 80% of participants will complete at least 8 sessions.

  Through completion of the 10-week intervention

• Participant Retention

  Retention will be assessed as the percentage of enrolled participants who complete the 10-week CARE-MOVE intervention. Reasons for withdrawal or discontinuation will also be recorded. The prespecified benchmark is a dropout rate of 20% or less.

  Through completion of the 10-week intervention

• Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM) Score

  Perceived intervention feasibility will be assessed using the 4-item Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM). Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree), with higher scores indicating greater perceived feasibility. The protocol specifies a feasibility benchmark based on the summed FIM score.

  Post-intervention, approximately 10 weeks after baseline

• Treatment Satisfaction

  Treatment satisfaction will be assessed using participant ratings of the intervention structure and content on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not very satisfied) to 5 (very satisfied). Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction. The prespecified benchmark is a mean rating greater than 3.5.

  Post-intervention, approximately 10 weeks after baseline

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Perceived Stress

  Baseline, post-intervention at 10 weeks, and 3-month follow-up

• Caregiver distress related to dementia-related behaviors

  Baseline, post-intervention at 10 weeks, and 3-month follow-up

• Depressive symptoms

  Baseline, post-intervention at 10 weeks, and 3-month follow-up

• Psychological well-being

  Baseline, post-intervention at 10 weeks, and 3-month follow-up

• Caregiver-care recipient relationship quality

  Baseline, post-intervention at 10 weeks, and 3-month follow-up

Study Arms (1)

Mindfulness-based Dance/Movement Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to the CARE-MOVE arm will receive a 10-week online mindfulness-based dance/movement therapy program for dementia care partners. They will attend weekly 70-minute group sessions incorporating movement, mindfulness-based embodied practices, music, sensory exploration, creative self-expression, and peer support. Sessions are designed to support emotional awareness and regulation, empathy, nonverbal communication, adaptive coping, self-compassion, and the caregiving relationship.

Behavioral: Mindfulness-based Dance/Movement Therapy

Interventions

Mindfulness-based Dance/Movement Therapy BEHAVIORAL

CARE-MOVE is a 10-week, synchronous online mindfulness-based dance/movement therapy intervention tailored for dementia care partners. Mindfulness principles are integrated into embodied and movement-based practices rather than taught as a separate comprehensive mindfulness curriculum. The intervention combines structured, self-directed, and interactive dance/movement, music, mindful meditation, sensory exploration, creative self-expression, and social support. The program progresses through five stages: emotional awareness and articulation, emotional expression and reciprocal attunement, empathy, affect modulation, and rhythmic synchrony.

Also known as: CARE-MOVE

Mindfulness-based Dance/Movement Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 years or older
• Informal care partner of a person living with dementia and has known the care recipient for at least 1 year
• Care recipient has a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, Lewy body disease, or mixed dementia
• English speaking
• Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity and normal color vision, based on self-report
• Adequate hearing acuity, based on self-report
• Able to use a tablet or computer, email, and complete online surveys independently or with readily available assistance
• Has internet access with Wi-Fi at the location where CARE-MOVE sessions will be attended
• Able to safely participate in a light- to moderate-intensity movement-based intervention
• Willing to participate in the CARE-MOVE intervention

You may not qualify if:

• Health condition that may contraindicate participation in light- to moderate-intensity movement, such as an unstable cardiac condition, previous myocardial infarction, angina, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unless medical clearance is provided by a physician
• Surgery within the previous 1 year
• New pain medication or psychotropic medication, or a change in pain or psychotropic medication, within the previous 60 days

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Drexel University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Shim M, Gaydos M, Goldstein-Levitas N, Musalo N, Prakash N, Bradt J, Zhang F, Wenger S, Gonzalez A. Development and feasibility of a mindfulness-based dance/movement therapy intervention for chronic low back pain. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2024 Apr 10;5:1281085. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1281085. eCollection 2024.

  PMID: 38689886 BACKGROUND

• Shim M, Kavanaugh M, Lacson C, Goldstein-Levitas N, Chang H, Zhang F, Palekar N, Gonzalez A, Fisher K. Connected through movement: a feasibility study of online mindfulness-based dance/movement therapy for older adults with age-related cognitive decline during COVID-19. Aging Ment Health. 2024 Dec;28(12):1676-1685. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2364754. Epub 2024 Jun 23.

  PMID: 38910361 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Minjung Shim

  Drexel University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 30, 2026
• First Posted: October 6, 2026
• Study Start: April 30, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: October 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)