Cognitive Training and Practice Effects in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Utah System of Higher Education (USHE)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment

Treatments: Behavioral: computerized cognitive exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT02301546

R01AG045163 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The current study will test the effectiveness of a computerized cognitive training program on auditory memory and attention in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Practice effects will also be examined as a moderator of treatment response.

Full description

The current study will test the effectiveness of a computerized cognitive (thinking) training program on improving thinking and memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment. The investigators will also examine how short term changes in thinking abilities (i.e., practice effects) can be related to improvement in thinking abilities after the cognitive training program.

Enrollment: 197 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Mild Cognitive Impairment, amnestic subtype

  • 65 years of age or older
  • Availability of a knowledgeable informant

• Access to internet 3 hours per week

• Adequate vision, hearing, and motor responding to participate in training

Exclusion criteria

• History of major stroke, head injury with loss of consciousness of >30 minutes, or other neurological disorder or systemic illness that are thought to be affecting cognition (e.g., seizure disorder, demyelinating disorder, etc.)
• Current or past major psychiatric illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder)
• History of substance abuse
• Current use of antipsychotics or anticonvulsant medications
• Currently residing in a nursing home or other skilled nursing facility

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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197 participants in 2 patient groups

experimental cognitive training

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will use experimental computerized cognitive training exercises, 1 hour per day, 3 - 5 days per week, for 13 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: computerized cognitive exercises

control cognitive exercises

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will use control computerized cognitive activities, 1 hour per day, 3 - 5 days per week, for 13 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: computerized cognitive exercises