Computer-based Cognitive Rehabilitation Program for Healthy Older Adults, Older People With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Dementia

NCT03430401 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: UWesternSydney
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will adopt a newly developed computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program targeting the encoding stage of memory. The aims of the study are:

1. 1.To test the feasibility of conducting a newly developed computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program for healthy older adults, people with MCI and mild dementia.
2. 2.To test the effectiveness of the newly developed program in improving cognitive function and enabling maintenance of occupational performance in healthy older adults, people with MCI or mild dementia.

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment; Mild Dementia; Healthy Older Adults

Keywords

memory encoding; functional performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Disability Assessment for Dementia - Change from baseline after the intervention

  Baseline and after the intervention (12 weeks)

• Lawton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale - Change from baseline after the intervention

  Baseline and after the intervention (12 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Color Trails Test - Change from baseline after the intervention

  Baseline and after the intervention (12 weeks)

• Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status - Change from baseline after the intervention

  Baseline and after the intervention (12 weeks)

• Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Change from baseline after the intervention

  Baseline and after the intervention (12 weeks)

Study Arms (3)

Perceptual-based memory encoding

EXPERIMENTAL

It will involve the use of visual imagery and the method of loci. To achieve this, each of the 15 daily tasks will be filmed and a short video created. In addition, each task will be broken down into 5-6 photographed steps based on activity analysis and task breakdown. The program will prompt the user to indicate in which room of the house the task would usually be completed. Once correct location is identified, the program will prompt the user to watch a chosen daily task video and then visualise themselves completing the task in their home environment.

Behavioral: Perceptual-based memory encoding

Semantic-based memory encoding

EXPERIMENTAL

It will incorporate association-based strategies to assist with recalling the steps of daily tasks. The steps of a given daily task will be provided and the user will be prompted to link the steps using a honeycomb concept, which makes use of the chunking method to encode the sequenced steps. Following this, the program will prompt the user to categorise the steps according to their association with given words cues. The word cues will represent time, places, objects, and people. The program will then take the user response and form a verbal and visual story according to the responses given. The program will help identify any problems in the sequencing and prompt the user to re-categorise if required.

Behavioral: Semantic-based memory encoding

Cognitive stimulation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will complete an online cognitive exercise program, Lumosity (Sarkar, Scanlon, \& Drescher, 2007). A study conducted by Hardy, Drescher, Sarkar, Kellett, and Scanlon (2011) indicated that participants who engaged in Lumosity showed greater improvements in memory in comparison to a non-intervention control group.

Behavioral: Cognitive stimulation

Interventions

Perceptual-based memory encoding BEHAVIORAL

It will run for 12 weeks with a 1-hour training session each week, supervised by a rehabilitation professional. In addition, two 30-minute home-based training sessions will be completed by participants. In the home training session, participants will practice specific daily tasks that are covered in the previous professional-led session through the use of the computer-based intervention.

Perceptual-based memory encoding

Semantic-based memory encoding BEHAVIORAL

It will run for 12 weeks with a 1-hour training session each week, supervised by a rehabilitation professional. In addition, two 30-minute home-based training sessions will be completed by participants. In the home training session, participants will practice specific daily tasks that are covered in the previous professional-led session through the use of the computer-based intervention.

Semantic-based memory encoding

Cognitive stimulation BEHAVIORAL

The frequency, duration and the number of sessions will be consistent with the experimental interventions.

Cognitive stimulation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

Selection Criteria for healthy older adults: 1. Score greater than 24 on the Mini-Mental State Examination, 2nd edition, standard version (MMSE) 2. Score less than 5 on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale - Short Form (GDS) 3. No diagnosis of probable dementia (as per NINCDS-ADRDA Alzheimer's Criteria); and 4. Are able to provide voluntary consent to participate in the study. Selection Criteria for people with MCI: 1. No diagnosis of probable dementia (as per NINCDS-ADRDA Alzheimer's Criteria); 2. Have a Clinical Dementia Rating Score (CDR) of 0 indicating no dementia; 3. Meets the diagnostic criteria for MCI (Petersen, 2004); and 4. Are able to provide voluntary consent to participate in the study. Selection Criteria for people with mild dementia: 1. Have a diagnosis of probable dementia; 2. Have a CDR score of 1 indicating mild dementia; 3. Have a career or family members who are able to report functional performance; and 4. Are able to provide voluntary consent to participate in the study, or have a guardian to provide consent.

Contact the study team to discuss eligibility requirements. They can help determine if this study is right for you.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Western Sydney: lead

Study Sites (1)

Western Sydney University

Penrith, New South Wales, 2751, Australia

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Tulliani N, Bye R, Bissett M, Coutts S, Liu KPY. The feasibility and acceptability of an app-based cognitive strategy training programme for older people. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2023 Jun 30;9(1):109. doi: 10.1186/s40814-023-01334-x.

  PMID: 37391842 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Karen P.Y. Liu, PhD

  Western Sydney University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 5, 2018
• First Posted: February 12, 2018
• Study Start: August 1, 2018
• Primary Completion: August 31, 2025
• Study Completion: December 1, 2025
• Last Updated: May 8, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

AU (1)