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VICA: A Virtual Care Assistant for Dementia Caregivers

Virtual Informal Care Assistant for Alzheimer'S-related Dementia (VICA): A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Who can join

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

Age
21 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not 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

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
  • "Sixty caregiver-patient dyads will be randomized 1:1 to VICA or an attention-control education app (Dementia Guide Expert) for 3 months."
  • "Informal caregivers randomized to VICA are encouraged to use the platform 3 times per week for approximately 20 minutes over 3 months; control participants use the Dementia Guide Expert education-only app on the same schedule."
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

This study tests VICA, an AI-powered helper that gives dementia caregivers tips, tracks symptoms, and offers coaching. It is for people age 65 or older with dementia and their informal caregivers, age 21 or older. Over 3 months, it compares VICA with an education app to see how easy VICA is to use and whether it may reduce dementia symptoms and caregiver stress.

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluates the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of VICA, an AI-powered virtual care assistant that delivers evidence-based education, symptom monitoring, and coaching to informal caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Sixty caregiver-patient dyads will be randomized 1:1 to VICA or an attention-control education app (Dementia Guide Expert) for 3 months. The study will assess recruitment, VICA acceptance/usability, and engagement (Aim 1), and estimate effect sizes for reducing patient behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and caregiver distress (Aim 2).

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

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Patient: Is age 65 or older and lives in the community, not a care facility.
  • Patient: Has Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.
  • Patient: Medical notes show behavior or mood symptoms linked to dementia.
  • Caregiver: Is age 21 or older.
  • Caregiver: Identifies as an informal caregiver for a person with dementia who lives in the community.
  • Caregiver: Gives the patient at least 10 hours of care each week.
  • Caregiver: Has regular access to a computer or smart device with internet.
  • Caregiver: Can read English and meets the study's reading screening requirement.

Who can't join

  • Patient: Is expected to live less than 6 months.
  • Caregiver: A clinician reports problems with memory or thinking.
  • Caregiver: A clinician reports severe mental illness or a substance use disorder, meaning problems with alcohol or drug use.
  • Caregiver: A clinician reports that they are expected to live less than 6 months.
  • Caregiver: Cannot give informed consent, meaning they cannot understand the study and agree to join.

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

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Patient * Age ≥ 65 years * Community-dwelling * Diagnosed with ADRD * Clinical notes indicate behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) Inclusion Criteria: Informal Caregiver * Age ≥ 21 years * Self-identified informal caregiver of a community-dwelling patient diagnosed with ADRD * Provides ≥ 10 hours/week of care to the patient with ADRD * Regular access to a computer and/or smart device with internet * English-literate; assessed as "adequate" on the Single Item Literacy Screener Exclusion Criteria: Patient * Life expectancy less than 6 months Exclusion Criteria: Informal Caregiver * Clinician-reported cognitive impairment * Clinician-reported severe mental illness or substance use disorder * Clinician-reported life expectancy of less than 6 months * Unable to provide informed consent

Study sites (1)

IN