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Published on: June 6, 2025
Maintenance cognitive stimulation therapy for dementia: single-blind, multicentre, pragmatic randomised controlled
Martin Orrell1, Elisa Aguirre1, Aimee Spector1
1Martin Orrell, PhD, Elisa Aguirre, PhD, Unit of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, and Research and Development Department, North East London Foundation Trust, Goodmayes Hospital, Ilford; Aimee Spector, PhD, Research and Development Department, North East London Foundation Trust, Goodmayes Hospital, Ilford, and Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London; Zoe Hoare, PhD, North Wales Organisation for Randomised Trials in Health (NWORTH), Institute of Medical & Social Care Research, Bangor; Robert T. Woods, MSc, DSDC Wales, Bangor University, Bangor; Amy Streater, MSc, Unit of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, and Research and Development Department, North East London Foundation Trust, Goodmayes Hospital, Ilford; Helen Donovan, PsyD, Clinical Psychology Service, South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Bedford; Juanita Hoe, PhD, Unit of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, and Research and Development Department, North East London Foundation Trust, Goodmayes Hospital, Ilford; Martin Knapp, PhD, Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics and Political Science; Christopher Whitaker, MSc, North Wales Organisation for Randomised Trials in Health (NWORTH), Institute of Medical & Social Care Research, Bangor; Ian Russell, PhD, Swansea University, College of Medicine, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK.
Continuing cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) for dementia improved quality of life. For individuals taking acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), maintenance CST also enhanced cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Short-term cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) shows benefits for dementia patients.
- Long-term effects of CST for dementia remain under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of maintenance CST for individuals with dementia.
- To evaluate outcomes in a pragmatic randomized controlled trial, including a substudy of participants on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs).
Main Methods:
- 236 dementia patients from care homes and community services participated.
- All received an initial 7-week CST program before randomization.
- Intervention group received weekly maintenance CST for 24 weeks; control group received usual care.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in self-rated quality of life (QoL-AD) at 6 months (P = 0.03).
- Improvements in proxy-rated quality of life (QoL-AD, DEMQOL) and daily living activities at 3 months.
- Subgroup taking AChEIs showed cognitive benefits (MMSE) at 3 and 6 months (P = 0.03).
Conclusions:
- Maintenance CST enhances quality of life in dementia patients.
- Continuing CST improves cognitive function for patients concurrently using AChEIs.
