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Art-based intervention in promoting brain health among the elderly in Okere City, Otuke District, Northern Uganda. A protocol for a Quasi-experimental study
Kiggundu RE, Ajalo E, Agumya F, Chaiga DG, Nangobi NL, Okello O, Mutesi L, Musoke P et al.. Research Square, 2026-07-29
Topic: Brain imaging, connectivity and assessment
Background Population ageing is accelerating globally, with a rising burden of neurocognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Uganda, the growing elderly population faces increasing risks of cognitive decline, yet contextually relevant, non-pharmacological interventions remain limited. Creative arts have shown promise in improving cognitive function, social engagement, and mental well-being among older adults. Methods This quasi-experimental study will be conducted among adults aged ≥60 years or older in Okere City, Otuke District. Participants will undergo a 12-week art-based intervention comprising storytelling/poetry, community mural creation, and dance-based physical activity. Cognitive function will be assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and at 3-month follow-up (T2). A minimum sample size of 63 participants was determined to ensure adequate power while accounting for repeated measures and potential attrition. Data will be analysed using paired t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA. Discussion and Conclusion The intervention is anticipated to improve MoCA scores, enhance social cohesion, and reduce cognitive decline among participants. This study will provide evidence on culturally grounded, scalable strategies to promote brain health among older adults in rural Uganda. Ethical Consideration The study has been reviewed and approved by the Mulago Hospital Research and Ethical Committee, with approval number MHREC 3139.
Key findings
- A minimum sample size of 63 participants was determined to ensure adequate power while accounting for repeated measures and potential attrition.
- Data will be analysed using paired t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA.
- Discussion and Conclusion The intervention is anticipated to improve MoCA scores, enhance social cohesion, and reduce cognitive decline among participants.
- This study will provide evidence on culturally grounded, scalable strategies to promote brain health among older adults in rural Uganda.
- Ethical Consideration The study has been reviewed and approved by the Mulago Hospital Research and Ethical Committee, with approval number MHREC 3139.
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Study details
- Participants63
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 16/100
Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. It scored 27 on the same rubric, but non-peer-reviewed sources are capped at 16, so it shows as 16. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 17 of the 62 points we could judge it on, which is 27 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 2 / 10 | Tier 4 — not a peer-reviewed journal (Research Square) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Not a journal article, so the journal's record does not count |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 4 / 10 | Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. Hosted on a preprint server. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 63 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 17 / 62 | Scored on 12 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 17 of the 62 points we could judge it on is 27 out of 100. |
| Total | 27 / 100 | Capped to 16 because this is not a peer-reviewed article. |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Kiggundu, R. E., Ajalo, E., Agumya, F., Chaiga, D. G., Nangobi, N. L., Okello, O., et al. (2026). Art-based intervention in promoting brain health among the elderly in Okere City, Otuke District, Northern Uganda. A protocol for a Quasi-experimental study. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-10417352/v1
Vancouver
Kiggundu RE, Ajalo E, Agumya F, Chaiga DG, Nangobi NL, Okello O, et al. Art-based intervention in promoting brain health among the elderly in Okere City, Otuke District, Northern Uganda. A protocol for a Quasi-experimental study. Research Square. 2026. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-10417352/v1.
BibTeX
@article{kiggundu2026-d91bbeac,
author = {Kiggundu, R. E. and Ajalo, E. and Agumya, F. and Chaiga, D. G. and Nangobi, N. L. and Okello, O. and Mutesi, L. and Musoke, P. and others},
title = {{Art-based intervention in promoting brain health among the elderly in Okere City, Otuke District, Northern Uganda. A protocol for a Quasi-experimental study}},
journal = {Research Square},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-10417352/v1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-10417352/v1}
}
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