Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sleep Medicine
• Primary Care Research

Background:

• Dementia care costs are escalating globally, reaching $1.33 trillion USD in 2020.
• Sleep disturbances are common in people living with dementia (PLWD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), negatively impacting daily life and potentially accelerating disease.
• Effective sleep management in PLWD/MCI could enhance independence, reduce caregiver burden, and lower long-term economic costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-design and assess the feasibility of a tailored intervention for managing sleep (TIMES) in primary care for PLWD/MCI.
• To support primary care professionals in delivering person-centred sleep management strategies.
• To inform the design of a future large-scale randomized controlled trial.

Main Methods:

• Co-design of the TIMES intervention with patient and public involvement (PPI) groups and healthcare professionals.
• A cluster-randomized feasibility trial conducted in 10 English GP practices.
• Inclusion of 64 patient-carer dyads and an economic analysis.

Main Results:

• Identification of barriers and enablers for recruitment and retention in primary care settings.
• Assessment of the TIMES intervention's fidelity and acceptability among participants and staff.
• Preliminary data on the intervention's impact on patient sleep, quality of life, caregiver burden, costs, and staff confidence.

Conclusions:

• The TIMES intervention demonstrates feasibility for improving sleep management in PLWD/MCI within primary care.
• Findings will guide the development and implementation of a full-scale randomized controlled trial.
• Tailored, person-centred care plans are essential for effective sleep management in this population.