Virtual Assessment of Praxis as a Novel Predictor of Activities of Daily Living in Dementia

What is the study about?

This study will assess a person’s ability to perform pretend movements, like pretending to comb your hair or brush your teeth. This assessment will be a video call (like Zoom) on your computer to connect with you over the internet. This video call will be similar to your virtual appointment at the Memory Clinic.

 

Research with stroke patients has shown that difficulties in performing these movements are linked to problems in everyday activities. This can contribute to disability and the need for long-term care. However, there are no data on this in patients with dementia.

 

Therefore, this study will investigate whether assessing the ability to carry out pretend movements can predict difficulties in everyday activities in patients with dementia. The study will compare this assessment to standard questionnaires to see if it is better.

 

Eligibility- Who can participate?

Participants must:

• Be 50 years of age or older
• Have a diagnosis of dementia
• Fluent in English
• Have a caregiver who is able to physically assist them
• Have access to the following for virtual assessments:
  • Computer
  • Web-camera
  • Stable internet
• Be able and compliant to having an in-person everyday activity assessment with an Occupational Therapist in their home

 

Time requirement

• Approximately two (2) hours, combined across three assessments
• Assessments are conducted in-home, over the phone, or over zoom

 

TDRA study investigator

Dr. Morris Freedman

TDRA Site: