Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Patients with MCI-(V1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Utility of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy to Reduce the Decline of Cognitive Function in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study (CST-MCI)
IRAS ID
366562
Contact name
Roberta Caiazza
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Innovation, Research and Development, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
The purpose of the research is to address whether Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is useful for people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). There is existing research to demonstrate its efficacy for people with a Dementia but no such evidence of its use with MCI.
How will this be done?
We will invite patients with MCI diagnoses to attend 12 CST sessions at the Memory Clinic in North Tyneside Hospital using the standardised procedure that has been effective for Dementia patients. All participants will have completed two skills assessments both pre and post intervention. They are the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) which looks at functioning in seven domains including memory and visuospatial skills, and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE-III) which assesses memory, attention, verbal fluency, language and visuospatial skills. We will use these screening tools to assess any changes in cognition.Participants will also be asked for feedback so we can gain qualitative information around how the CST was received and gain an understanding of patients’ perception of the utility of CST for them.
What will the groups look like?
There will be one hour session per week for 12 weeks utilising well-structured activities adapted for higher functioning individuals from the existing CST program. All activities were designed to promote cognitive reserve and psychological wellbeing e.g. word association, categorisation games and naming tasks.
Who will we invite?
Patients over 65 with a diagnosis of MCI will be invited provided they have sufficient hearing (with or without aids), proficient in spoken English and the capacity for informed consent. Any patients with a diagnosis of dementia or any active psychosis will be excluded. We will recruit patients from those who are open to the Memory Clinic at North Tyneside Hospital and who expressed an interest in CST when offered after their assessment.REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/PR/0237
Date of REC Opinion
14 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion