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Cognitive Motor Interference Rehabilitation in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis (DUETS)

U

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Status

Completed

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Treatments

Other: Exercise

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study examines the effect of balance and walking exercise on cognition and mobility in people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Full description

Walking and cognitive impairments are common in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Approximately 85% of persons with MS report walking as a major limitation, whereas 65% experience cognitive dysfunction. Traditionally, walking and cognition have been viewed as unrelated, but there is evidence of cognitive-motor interference (CMI). CMI is believed to stem from damage to common neural tracts. Recent evidence supports cognitive-motor interference in persons with MS. For example, there is evidence that walking performance declines when performed in conjunction with a simultaneous cognitive task (i.e., dual task cost [DTC] of walking) and this decline in walking performance is greater in persons with MS compared to healthy controls. This elevated cognitive-motor interference during walking is mainly associated with walking performance in persons with MS although cognitive function does play a role. Cognitive-motor interference during mobility tasks is of practical and clinical importance because it has been linked to decreased community mobility and a greater risk of falls in other clinical populations. Despite the adverse consequences of elevated CMI there is ambiguity concerning prevention and rehabilitation strategies for cognitive-motor interference in individuals with MS.

This study seeks to examine whether single and/or targeted dual task rehabilitation has a beneficial effect on CMI in individuals with MS. The results of this investigation will provide the foundation for future rehabilitation-based randomized control trials seeking to improve walking and cognitive function in persons with MS.

Enrollment

20 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 64 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:Physician diagnosed MS, relapse free for 30 days, self reporting problems with multitasking -

Exclusion Criteria:We will exclude all individuals with risk factors contra-indicative for undertaking strenuous exercise. Participants will verbally respond to a health history questionnaire. Those individuals who are asymptomatic and meet no more than one risk factor threshold including family history of coronary heart disease, cigarette smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle will be considered at low risk and included for participation.

Trial design

Primary purpose

Health Services Research

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Factorial Assignment

Masking

Single Blind

20 participants in 2 patient groups

Gait and balance exercise
Experimental group
Description:
Traditional exercises focusing on gait and balance
Treatment:
Other: Exercise
Cognitive training and physical exercise
Experimental group
Description:
Gait and balance exercises done in combination with cognitive training (i.e. counting backwards by 7s from 98)
Treatment:
Other: Exercise

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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