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Caring for Caregivers of Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease

Caring for Caregivers of Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease- Promoting Virtual Home-based Exercise for Caregiver Wellbeing

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years to 99 Years
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Time periods mentioned: 3 months, 6 months
  • Procedures mentioned: Questionnaires, Wearing a device, Phone or video check-ins, Pills

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "Participants will be randomly assigned (like a coin flip) to one of two groups: * EMBRACE group: 24 weekly virtual group exercise sessions over 3 months (about 1 hour each), using an at-home elliptical device provided by the study."
  • "Educational sessions on habit-building and goal-setting are included. * Wait-list control group: Completes the same surveys and measurements; receives the program after data collection ends."
  • "Exercise time (using a wearable device), symptoms of depression and anxiety, and whether the program is feasible and acceptable to participants."
  • "Intervention Structure The EMBRACE program is delivered over 6 months in two phases: Months 1-3 (Structured Phase): 24 weekly virtual group exercise sessions (\~1 hour each), delivered in small groups of 6-7 participants across two daily time slots (morning and evening)."
  • "Months 4-6 (Independent Exercise Phase): Participants exercise independently, supported by weekly booster phone calls (5-10 min each) and weekly text message prompts functioning as behavioral habit cues."
  • "All study equipment including a tablet, elliptical device, and accelerometer - is mailed to participants, enabling full remote participation."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

The EMBRACE Study tests whether an at-home online exercise program can reduce depression and anxiety in family caregivers. It is for African American adults who are the main unpaid caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, which affects memory and thinking. All study activities take place remotely.

What is this study about? This study is called the EMBRACE Study - A Virtual Community Empowerment Approach Integrating Tradition and Technology for Family Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease. It tests whether a home-based virtual exercise program can reduce depression and anxiety in family caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Why is this study needed? Caring for a loved one with ADRD is demanding and is strongly linked to depression and anxiety. Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to reduce these symptoms - but caregivers often cannot leave home to exercise due to the needs of their loved one, transportation concerns, and safety issues. What does participation involve? Participants will be randomly assigned (like a coin flip) to one of two groups: * EMBRACE group: 24 weekly virtual group exercise sessions over 3 months (about 1 hour each), using an at-home elliptical device provided by the study. Months 4-6 include weekly check-in calls to support independent exercise. Educational sessions on habit-building and goal-setting are included. * Wait-list control group: Completes the same surveys and measurements; receives the program after data collection ends. Who can join? Adults (18+) who are the primary unpaid caregiver for someone with ADRD, can read and speak English, and are healthy enough to exercise. Participants do not need to leave home - everything is virtual. What is being measured? Exercise time (using a wearable device), symptoms of depression and anxiety, and whether the program is feasible and acceptable to participants. Where is the study based? Indiana University Indianapolis. The study is conducted entirely virtually and remotely.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Identify as African American.
  • Be age 18 or older.
  • Be the main unpaid caregiver for an adult with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.
  • Be able to read and speak English.
  • Be healthy enough to exercise, based on the PAR-Q+ exercise safety questionnaire.
  • Have access to an email address.

Who can't join

  • Have a diagnosed mental health illness or severe major depression that is not treated.
  • Are receiving advanced cancer treatment or hospice care, which focuses on comfort near the end of life.
  • Are receiving dialysis, a treatment that filters the blood when kidneys do not work well.
  • Have severe hearing loss without hearing aids.
  • Have severe vision problems without glasses to correct them.
  • Do not have access to a phone or email.
  • Cannot exercise safely, based on the PAR-Q+ exercise safety questionnaire.
  • Already meet the recommended physical activity guidelines when joining.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Self-identifies as African American * Age 18 years or older * Primary unpaid caregiver for an adult living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia (ADRD) * Able to read and speak English * Deemed sufficiently healthy to participate in exercise per the PAR-Q+ screening questionnaire * Has access to an email address Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed psychiatric illness * Untreated severe major depression * Currently receiving advanced cancer treatment or hospice care * Currently receiving dialysis * Severe hearing loss without hearing aids * Severe vision impairment without corrective eyeglasses * No access to a phone or email * Unable to safely exercise based on PAR-Q+ screening * Already meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines at the time of enrollment

Study sites (1)

IN