Attention Training for Learning Enhancement and Resilience Trial (ALERT)

Posit Science

Status: Completed

Conditions: Age-related Cognitive Decline

Treatments: Other: Computerized Plasticity-Based Adaptive Cognitive Training; Other: Commercially available computerized training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT02416401

PSC-1006-14

Details and patient eligibility

About

Healthy aging is associated with a decline in multiple cognitive domains, as well as motor control function. The long-term consequences of cognitive and functional impairment resulting from age-related cognitive decline are well documented in the scientific and clinical literature, with significant evidence of related problems with independent functional abilities. This study aims to understand how the experimental computer program can affect cognition and attention in participants with age-related cognitive decline.

Full description

Following consent, participants will engage in an assessment process to determine eligibility. Once eligibility is confirmed, participants will be scheduled for another assessment session to determine current level of cognitive function. This process consists of paper-pencil surveys and computerized tests. Following the assessment process, participants will engage in an Internet browser-delivered training sessions conducted on any internet-accessible computer. The computerized training sessions can be done up to 7 times a week (once a day) or at the participant's convenience (the recommended time commitment is 5 times a week). Following the completion of training, the participant's cognitive function will be re-assessed. Participation is voluntary and participants may withdraw from the study at any time.

Enrollment: 83 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participants must be 65 years of age or older
• Participants must have a diagnosis of age-related cognitive decline as confirmed by interview and performance on screening assessments
• Participants must be fluent English speakers
• Participants must have adequate visual, auditory, and motor capacity to use computerized intervention

Exclusion criteria

• Participants with diagnosis of PTSD, depression or other psychologically diagnosable emotional disorder
• Participants with a history of conditions that could affect thinking abilities, including brain injury, mental illness, cancer, or other neurological conditions (multiple sclerosis, seizure disorder), HIV/AIDS will be excluded
• Participants enrolled in another concurrent research study will be excluded
• Participants who have difficulty performing assessments or comprehending or following spoken instructions, in the judgment of the screening clinician, will be excluded
• Participants with a current or significant past history of substance abuse will be excluded
• Participants who show signs of suicidal ideations or behaviors will be excluded and referred for appropriate treatment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

---

83 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental Treatment

Experimental group

Description:

Computerized plasticity-based adaptive cognitive training requiring a total maximum of 36 treatment sessions, 4-5 times weekly, one hour each session.

Treatment:

Other: Computerized Plasticity-Based Adaptive Cognitive Training

Active Comparator

Active Comparator group

Description:

Commercially available computerized training requiring a total maximum of 36 treatment sessions, 4-5 times weekly, one hour each session.

Treatment:

Other: Commercially available computerized training