Once Weekly Spaced Retrieval Training can Lead to Learning in People with Dementia.

Chris Materne, Mary Luszcz & Malcolm Bond

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Chris Materne, B Psych (Hons)Mary, Luszcz, PhDMalcolm Bond, PhD

Have no real or apparent

conflicts of interest to report.

Rationale

• Need exists for a range of nonpharmacological options in response to increasing incidence of dementia

• Spaced retrieval has demonstrated effectiveness when delivered intensively and with individuals with moderate to severe dementia

Aims of Study

• Assess effectiveness of spaced retrieval training delivered once per week in community dwelling individuals

• Identify if any long term benefits

• Ascertain relationship of spaced retrieval training effectiveness with range of cognitive measures

Spaced Retrieval

• Practise at successfully recalling information over progressively longer intervals

• Ultimate goal - ability to recall information and/or use skills over clinically meaningful periods of time

Baseline characteristicsCharacteristic (n = 14) Mean (SD)

Age (yrs) 81.64 (5.98)

Education (yrs) 11.00 (2.63)

Estimated IQ (from NART errors) 105.41 (9.09)

MMSE 19.79 (7.25)

RBANS Total Index 60.64 (15.15)

RBANS Attention Index 85.07 (24.71)

RBMT Adjusted Profile Score Total 1.14 (2.45)

TMT–A (secs)(n=13) 98.77 (69.12)

DSS (# symbols in 120 secs)(n=11) 27.46 (11.03)

Baseline Characteristics

Number : Number

Women : Men 10 : 4

Living with Family member : Alone 10 : 4

Participant Partner – Spouse: Daughter : Son : Sibling 7 : 5 : 1 : 1

AD : FTD : Non Specific Dementia 10 : 1 : 3

Self Rated Health – Ave : Good : Very Good 5 : 7 : 1

Dementia Related Medication 6

Sidney

• Male 81 years old • 15 years education• MMSE = 13

Recall Prompt

UseInfo/strategy

post –intervention Yes Yes

3 monthfollow up Yes Yes

6 monthfollow up Yes Yes

Ruth

• Female 94 years old• 11 years education• MMSE = 19

Recall Prompt

UseInfo/strategy

post –intervention No No

3 monthfollow up No No

6 monthfollow up N/A N/A

April

• Female 88 Years old• 10 years education• MMSE = 25

Recall Prompt

UseInfo/strategy

post –intervention Yes Yes

3 monthfollow up No Yes

6 monthfollow up No Yes

Spaced Retrieval Training Retention

Post-intervention

3 Month Follow up

6 Month Follow up

Correct, using strategy 12 7 5

Correct, not using strategy - - -

Incorrect, using strategy - 2 2

Incorrect, not using strategy 1 3 3

Strategy no longer appropriate - 1 3

Entries show number per category

Spaced Retrieval: Correlations with Performance

RBANS (Tot)

# Trials to 20 min recall

# Trials to 1 week recall

MMSE .891** -.599* -.528

RBANS (Tot) -.537 -.468

RBANS (Attn) .886** -.576* -.488

TMT -.696** .387 .233

DSS .606* -.165 -.061

RBMT .651* -.691** -.676*

* = p < .05, ** = p < .001

Conclusions

• Spaced retrieval training generally well tolerated by people in early & moderate stages of dementia

• Appears to be effective form of memory training when delivered weekly to achieve a variety of goals

• Appears to be fairly robust post-training, with scope to enhance retention