Dementia and Chronic Knee Pain Management Research Study
Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Nursing are conducting a study to understand the effectiveness of a home-based brain stimulation and chair yoga for managing knee pain in older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias.
Fast Facts
Diagnosed with Alzheimer's or Related Dementia
Experiencing Chronic Knee Pain
Participants Ages 60+
Compensation Provided to Participant and Caregiver
Conducted in Tucson, AZ and Remotely
Study Background
Researchers at the University of Arizona are conducting a study to understand better ways to manage knee pain in older adults with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
This study is being conducted to understand more about an intervention we think will reduce knee pain in older adults. We want to know how well the program works, how easy it is to follow, and how much patients like participating.
The program involves combining home-based electrical stimulation to the brain with online chair yoga for managing chronic knee pain in older adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or related dementia (e.g., Lewy body dementia, Vascular dementia, mixed dementias, Multiple Etiology Dementias). Chronic knee pain is common in this population and is often undertreated, which can worsen symptoms such as agitation, mood changes, and sleep disturbances. Opioid medications, commonly used for pain, may cause harmful side effects in individuals with dementia, making safe options other than medication urgently needed.
This study offers a novel, home-based approach that combines gentle movement with neuromodulation (brain stimulation) to help manage pain. Participants will complete 14 sessions over four weeks, with all intervention activities supervised remotely. By investigating this innovative intervention, the study aims to improve quality of life for individuals with dementia while also reducing caregiver burden.
Study Background
Researchers at the University of Arizona are conducting a study to understand better ways to manage knee pain in older adults with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
This study is being conducted to understand more about an intervention we think will reduce knee pain in older adults. We want to know how well the program works, how easy it is to follow, and how much patients like participating.
The program involves combining home-based electrical stimulation to the brain with online chair yoga for managing chronic knee pain in older adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or related dementia (e.g., Lewy body dementia, Vascular dementia, mixed dementias, Multiple Etiology Dementias). Chronic knee pain is common in this population and is often undertreated, which can worsen symptoms such as agitation, mood changes, and sleep disturbances. Opioid medications, commonly used for pain, may cause harmful side effects in individuals with dementia, making safe options other than medication urgently needed.
This study offers a novel, home-based approach that combines gentle movement with neuromodulation (brain stimulation) to help manage pain. Participants will complete 14 sessions over four weeks, with all intervention activities supervised remotely. By investigating this innovative intervention, the study aims to improve quality of life for individuals with dementia while also reducing caregiver burden.
Additional Information
The goal is to determine whether this intervention can reduce pain, sleep interruptions, and dementia symptoms without the use of opioids or other medications.
You or the adult that you care for may qualify for this study if you meet the following criteria:
Participant:
- Ages 60+
- Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or a related dementia (such as Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, mixed dementias, Multiple Etiology Dementias)
- No history of brain surgery, brain tumor, head trauma, seizure/epilepsy, stroke, cancer affecting the head, or intracranial metal implantation
Caregiver:
- 18 years old or older
- Willing to accompany the participant to the University of Arizona College of Nursing Lab for two in-person visits (baseline and post-intervention)
This is a primarily home-based study with two in-person visits at the University of Arizona College of Nursing: one at baseline and one following the completion of the intervention.
Once enrolled, participants will receive individualized training and equipment for home use, including a device for self-administered brain stimulation (called transcranial direct current stimulation or tDCS), which safely stimulates the brain. They will also gain access to live, online chair yoga (OCY) sessions.
Participants will complete 14 combined tDCS+OCY sessions over a 4-week period. Each session will last approximately 50 minutes: 20 minutes of tDCS followed by 30 minutes of chair yoga. The sessions will be delivered five times during Week 1 and three times per week in Weeks 2 through 4. All intervention sessions will be conducted at home and supervised remotely via secure videoconferencing by trained study staff.
Participants who complete the study will receive a $400 gift card as compensation.
Eligible participants and their caregiver may receive a $400 gift card ($200 for the participant and $200 for the caregiver) after completing the study.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.
An Institutional Review Board (IRB) for human subjects research at the University of Arizona reviewed and approved this research project, according to applicable state and federal regulations and university policies designed to pAn Institutional Review Board (IRB) for human subjects research at the University of Arizona reviewed and approved this research project, according to applicable state and federal regulations and university policies designed to protect the rights and welfare of participants in research.rotect the rights and welfare of participants in research.