ACES support for Black immigrant families living with dementia

Exploring an Adapted Active Caregiving: Empowering Skills (ACES) Intervention for High-Risk Care Partners

This project will test whether a culturally adapted ACES program helps Black immigrants with dementia and their caregivers improve confidence, reduce unhelpful thoughts, and increase helpful activities over one and three months.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 150 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Minnesota (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
• Trial ID: NCT07546708 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The trial has two aims: first to determine the feasibility of delivering a culturally adapted Active Caregiving: Enhancing Skills (ACES) intervention to Black immigrant families affected by dementia using an explanatory mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data will be collected in a pre-post design at one and three months and followed by in-depth qualitative interviews to capture participant experiences. A second, extended aim will examine whether changes in cognitive appraisal (self-efficacy and dysfunctional thoughts) and behavioral activation mediate effects on caregiver outcomes. Participants include English-speaking Black immigrants with dementia (age ≥50) and their first- or second-generation Black immigrant caregivers (age ≥18).

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking Black immigrants living with dementia aged 50 or older who can give verbal assent, together with their first- or second-generation Black immigrant caregivers aged 18 or older who have provided at least six months of care.

Not a fit: People who are under the age thresholds, not Black immigrants, unable to communicate in English, unable to give verbal assent (for the person with dementia), or caregivers with less than six months of caregiving are not eligible and would not benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the adapted ACES program could increase caregiver confidence, reduce unhelpful thoughts, promote engagement in helpful activities, and improve well-being for Black immigrant caregivers and the people they care for.

How similar studies have performed: Behavioral activation and cognitive-appraisal-based caregiver interventions have shown benefits in other populations, but a culturally adapted ACES intervention specifically for Black immigrant families is largely novel.

Eligibility criteria

Person with dementia:

Inclusion Criteria:

* Family or self-identified report of dementia/memory loss,
* Score \<3 on the Six-item Screener.
* Age 50 or older.
* Ability to communicate in English.
* Identify as a Black immigrant.
* Ability to give verbal assent.

Exclusion Criteria

* Under age 50.
* Not a Black immigrant.
* Cannot communicate in English.
* Unable to give verbal assent.

Caregiver:

Inclusion criteria:

* Black immigrant care partner of persons with AD/ADRD.
* Age 18 or older.
* Ability to communicate in English.
* Identify as a first/second-generation Black immigrant.
* Have had at least 6 months of caregiving (any help or assistance provided to a relative related to dementia/memory loss).

Exclusion Criteria

* Under age 18.
* Not first/second generation Black immigrant.
* Cannot communicate in English.
* Has less than 6 months of caregiving to a relative with dementia/memory loss.

Where this trial is running

Minneapolis, Minnesota

• University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Manka Nkimbeng, PhD — University of Minnesota
• Study coordinator: Manka Nkimbeng, PhD

Conditions Dementia; Black immigrants