Background: According to the World Alzheimer Report (Prince, The Global Impact of Dementia: an Analysis of\nPrevalence, Incidence, Cost and Trends, 2015), 46.8 million people worldwide are nowadays living with dementia.\nAnd this number is estimated to approximate 131.5 million by 2050, with an increasing burden on society and\nfamilies. The lack of medical treatments able to stop or slow down the course of the disease has moved the focus\nof interest toward the nonpharmacological approach and psychosocial therapies for people with/at risk of dementia,\nas in the Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) condition. The purpose of the present study is to test an individualized\nhome-based multidimensional program aimed at enhancing the continuum of care for MCI and outpatients with\ndementia in early stage using technology.\nMethods: The proposed study is a single blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 30 subjects with MCI\nand Alzheimerââ?¬â?¢s disease (AD) randomly assigned to the intervention group (Ability group), who will receive the\nââ?¬Å?Ability Programââ?¬Â, or to the active control group (ACG), who will receive ââ?¬Å?Treatment As Usualââ?¬Â (TAU). The protocol\nprovides for three steps of assessment: at the baseline (T_0), after treatment, (T_1) and at follow-up (T_2) with a\nmultidimensional evaluation battery including cognitive functioning, behavioral, functional, and quality of life\nmeasures. The Ability Program lasts 6 weeks, comprises tablet-delivered cognitive (5 days/week) and physical\nactivities (7 days/week) combined with a set of devices for the measurement and monitoring from remote of vital and\nphysical health parameters. The TAU equally lasts 6 weeks and includes paper and pencil cognitive activities (5 days/\nweek), with clinicianââ?¬â?¢s prescription to perform physical exercise every day and to monitor selected vital parameters.\nDiscussion: Results of this study will inform on the efficacy of a technology-enhanced home care service to preserve\ncognitive and motor levels of functioning in MCI and AD, in order to slow down their loss of autonomy in daily life.\nThe expected outcome is to ensure the continuity of care from clinical practice to the patientââ?¬â?¢s home, enabling also\ncost effectiveness and the empowerment of patient and caregiver in the care process, positively impacting on their\nquality of life.
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