Clarkson P, Pitts R, Islam S, et al. - An intervention involving provision of memory aids and guidance by dementia support practitioners (DSPs) failed to maintain independence in the activities of daily living and did not confer improvement in other outcomes for people with dementia or carers.

• A pragmatic, randomized controlled trial of persons with mild-to-moderate dementia and their informal carers, of those 468 were randomized to a DSP with memory aids or to usual care plus existing dementia guide.

• An increase in mean 6 months BADLS (Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale) Score, to 14.6 (SD: 10.4) in intervention and 12.6 (SD: 8.1) in comparator, was evident.

• This suggests greater dependence in the activities of daily living, and adjusted between-group difference was 0.38.

• Although this is indicative of greater dependency in the intervention group, the noted difference was non-significant.

• There were no differences in quality of life, cognition and functioning, capability, social networks, instrumental daily living activities, (for carers) psychological health and sense of competence.