Brain Health Virtual Reality Study

University of California San Diego

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Aging; Cognitive Change; Memory Disorders; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Memory Disorder, Spatial; Aging Problems; Cognitive Decline; Cognition Disorders in Old Age; Memory Disorders in Old Age; Memory Loss; Memory Impairment

Treatments: Behavioral: Physical Activity; Behavioral: Cognitive Activity (VR); Behavioral: Physical and Cognitive Activity

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06124339

803273

Details and patient eligibility

About

The Interventions for Brain Health Virtual Reality Study is a NIH-funded clinical research trial at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Health under the supervision of the study principal investigator Dr. Judy Pa. The overarching goal of this trial is to use a novel virtual reality (VR) based intervention that simultaneously engages physical and cognitive activity aimed at improving brain health and cognition in older adults. The investigators will compare 3 types of interventions: physical activity, VR cognitive activity, and combined VR physical and cognitive activity over 16 weeks to evaluate physical and brain health changes.

Enrollment: 150 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 85 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. 50-85 years of age
2. Fluent in English
3. Can safely ride a stationary bike

Exclusion criteria

1. Dementia
2. History of a neurological disorder
3. Severe sensory deficits
4. Inability to perform intervention (e.g., inability to cycle safely)
5. Contraindications to MRI scan (e.g., pacemaker)
6. Fear of needles/ blood
7. Prior history of fainting due to sight of needles of blood

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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150 participants in 3 patient groups

Cognitive activity - VR spatial navigation only

Active Comparator group

Description:

VR spatial navigation program will consist of a spatial navigation program that increases difficulty and length per trial over time. Spatial navigation is the ability to navigate between multiple elements/landmarks widely used in computer games. A trial is a test of performance or quality of someone or something.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive Activity (VR)

Physical activity - Cycling only

Active Comparator group

Description:

The physical activity program will consist of a stationary bike cycling program. Each day will consist of a cycling program of varying levels of difficulty for 20-50 minutes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physical Activity

Combined, simultaneous physical and cognitive activity

Experimental group

Description:

The combined physical and cognitive activity VR program will consist of a spatial navigation program that increases difficulty and length per trial over time.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physical and Cognitive Activity