Dr. Esther Hui developed a novel therapy for people with dementia during her PhD, called Virtual Individual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (Virtual iCST). See latest updates on Virtual iCST here.

 

Podcast on virtual CST therapies: 

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What was the context?

Dr. Esther Hui did her PhD during the pandemic. COVID-19 was detrimental for people with dementia. According to the UK death certificates in 2020, it is the most common underlying condition in all COVID-19-related deaths. Reduced social contact, increased isolation, and disruption of routine, exacerbated by the lack of respite for carers, are damaging to people with dementia’s mental health and overall well-being. 

 

Why Cognitive Stimulation Therapy?

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is the most established non-drug treatment for dementia as it is the only one recommended by the UK clinical guidelines for improving cognition and quality of life in mild to moderate dementia. CST was originally developed by Prof. Aimee Spector, Esther's PhD supervisor. Since its inception in the UK, it has spread to over 36 countries. While CST is widely used, this routine treatment was suspended because of COVID-19.

 

Before the pandemic, however, there were already people with dementia who could not access regular treatment due to a lack of transport provision, mobility issues, and sensory impairments. An accessible treatment is paramount amid the pandemic and beyond. 

 

What was the project about?

Dr. Esther Hui developed and evaluated Virtual iCST in Hong Kong and the UK. Virtual iCST was evaluated as a mixed-methods case series in Hong Kong and a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) in the UK [ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04828434]. Esther was funded by UCL’s Overseas Research Scholarship and Doctoral School Fellowship. 

 

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