Improving Executive Control in Cognitively Healthy Older Adults: the MUltitasking STrategy (MUST) Study

Rutgers The State University of New Jersey

Status

Enrolling

Conditions

Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

Healthy Aging

Treatments

Behavioral: Web-based Cognitive Training (with strategy)

Behavioral: Web-based Cognitive Training (without strategy)

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT06995638

Pro2025000330

4R00AG078561-03 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Developing efficient cognitive intervention for cognitively health older adults is a major public health goal, due to its potential for reducing age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease/dementia risk. Executive Control is a relevant cognitive target since it declines with aging and is critical for multi-tasking in daily life. The proposed research investigates whether playing a web-based cognitive complex game (the Breakfast Game) impacts cognitive performance in cognitively healthy older adults. To be enrolled in the study, participants will be asked to undergo a cognitive sassessment, health questionnires, and a blood exam. The intervention consist in one educational session on healthy aging, and 10 one-hour cognitive training sessions 2-3 times a week over one month. Participants will be asked to repeat the cognitive assessment within 1-2 weeks after the intervention, and after three months.

Full description

The proposed research investigates whether exposure to a web-based training protocol designed to enhance executive control / multi-tasking abilities will improve cognitive performance in cognitively healthy older adults. Cognitively normal adults aged 60-75 will be randomized into three groups: 1) Web-based game with training strategy (Experimental); 2) Web-based game without training strategy (Active Control); 3) No intervention group (Passive control). Participants in groups 1 and 2 will be instructed to play the complex, high-demand online game, the Breakfast Game, for 10 one-hour sessions over 4 weeks. At study entry all participants will be asked to complete a cognitive assessment, health questionnaires, a blood exam and and education session on healthy aging. After the intervention, participants will be asked to repeat the cogntive assessment within 1-2 weeks, and after 3 months.

Enrollment

130 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

60 to 75 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Age 60-75
Adequate English proficiency
Willingness to adhere to training protocol:
- Attend 2 in-person assessments
- Attend a blood test
- Attend online intervention sessions and online follow-up assessment

Exclusion criteria

Low test scores (below 26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
Known history of cognitive impairment, dementia, stroke, seizure disorder, or other neuropsychiatric condition judged to impact cognitive performance.
Taking medications known to influence cognitive performance.
Sensory (e.g. visual, auditory) or physical (e.g. severe arthritic, orthopedic, neurologic) impairment incompatible with use of a standard computer workstation.
Enrolled in a concurrent study that could affect the outcome of this study.

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Double Blind

130 participants in 3 patient groups

Strategy Training

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will undergo a web-based training protocol that involves playing an online game simulating a breakfast environment, where they will perform everyday activities such as "cooking" and "setting tables" in a multitasking fashion. Participants will learn to play the game using specific strategies to optimize their performance.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Web-based Cognitive Training (with strategy)

Regular Training

Active Comparator group

Description:

Treatment:

Behavioral: Web-based Cognitive Training (without strategy)

Passive Control

No Intervention group