NCT07907042 · RECRUITING
Effects of Doll Therapy on Apathy and Activities of Daily Living Initiation Deficits in Older Adults With Dementia
Sponsor: Xinyu ZHANG
This trial tests whether guided doll therapy can ease apathy, meaning low motivation and initiative, in older adults who already have dementia. It also looks at whether they get started on daily tasks like dressing and hygiene more easily. Participants get doll therapy or usual care for 2 weeks. It has no phase label, since it tests a behavioral approach, not a drug.
You may qualify if
- Aged 60 years or older.
- Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), or with major neurocognitive disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
- Hospitalization duration exceeding 4 weeks.
- Apathy Evaluation Scale-Informant Version (AES-I) score ≥33.
- Not participating in any other clinical research trials.
- Voluntary participation with written informed consent provided by the participant or their legally authorized representative.
You're excluded if
- Explicit refusal to interact with dolls.
- Severe uncorrected hearing or visual impairment.
- Uncontrolled severe behavioral and psychological symptoms (e.g., delusions or aggressive behavior) or a primary psychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia or bipolar disorder).
- Comorbid conditions that may impair the ability to independently perform personal hygiene activities, such as hemiplegia, paralysis, joint or skeletal disorders, or Parkinson's disease.
- Presence of a terminal illness.
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-10-30