Evaluation of the Online Memory & Aging Program and Online Goal Management Training

NCT03602768 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 17-24
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 800
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The current study is designed to test the effectiveness of online programs for memory and executive functions in healthy aging. The investigators are testing online adaptations of two cognitive interventions that have been extensively studied, validated, and implemented in clinical settings: The Memory \& Aging Program (MAP) targets normal memory change in healthy aging, and Goal Management Training (GMT) targets executive functioning deficits in a variety of cognitive and neurological conditions including healthy aging. Both programs combine psycho-education, targeted skills training and clinical support to empower participants with knowledge and strategies to harness their cognitive faculties. These programs are being tested against a waitlist control as well as against a commercial/research brain training platform (Cambridge Brain Sciences) in a design comparing performance on memory and executive functioning measures before and after the interventions/controls. The main hypothesis is that MAP will lead to memory-specific improvements above control conditions, whereas GMT will lead to greater improvements in measures of executive functions relative to controls.

Conditions

Aging; Cognitive Decline

Keywords

Healthy aging; executive functions; memory; cognitive training; cognitive intervention; subjective cognitive impairment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Change in dysexecutive functioning

  Dysexecutive Functioning Index (DEX) questionnaire measures self-reported deficits in executive functions, and is composed of one scale with scores ranging from 0-80, where higher scores indicate greater executive deficit.

  Pre-intervention; immediate post-intervention; 6 weeks following intervention completion.

• Change in cognitive failures

  Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) measures self-reported failures in perception, memory, and motor function. It contains a single scale with scores ranging from 0-100, where higher scores indicate greater degree of impairment.

  Pre-intervention; immediate post-intervention; 6 weeks following intervention completion.

• Change in memory knowledge score

  Memory Knowledge Quiz quantifies memory, lifestyle, and strategy knowledge. It is scored from 0-25, with higher scores indicating more knowledge about knowledge of lifestyle factors affecting memory and strategies to remember.

  Pre-intervention (post-randomization); immediate post-intervention; 6 weeks following intervention completion.

• Change in memory strategy toolbox use

  Memory Strategy Toolbox quantifies application of strategies in memory-demanding everyday situations. It is scored from 0 - 6, with higher scores indicating increased ability to apply memory strategy toolbox.

  Pre-intervention; immediate post-intervention; 6 weeks following intervention completion.

• Change in Multifactorial Metamemory Questionnaire (MMQ)

  Quantifies subjective memory abilities, satisfaction, and strategy use. The MMQ contains 3 sub scales, but we are using total score as our outcome variable. MMQ total scores range from 0 - 228, with higher scores indicting high self-reported memory performance, satisfaction with it, and use of memory strategies.

  Pre-intervention; immediate post-intervention; 6 weeks following intervention completion.

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change in Patient-Specific Functional Scale

  Pre-intervention (post-randomization); immediate post-intervention; 6 weeks following intervention completion.

• Change in Impact of Memory Change on Daily Activities

  Pre-intervention (post-randomization); immediate post-intervention; 6 weeks following intervention completion.

• Change in intentions to seek medical attention

  Pre-intervention (post-randomization); immediate post-intervention; 6 weeks following intervention completion.

• Change in Cambridge Brain Sciences online cognitive assessment

  Pre-intervention (post-randomization); immediate post-intervention; 6 weeks following intervention completion.

• Change in associative memory

  Pre-intervention (post-randomization); immediate post-intervention; 6 weeks following intervention completion.

Study Arms (4)

Goal Management Training

EXPERIMENTAL

The online version of GMT with a therapist on the back-end monitoring progress and giving feedback throughout the program. Online GMT takes 5-9 weeks (self-paced) to complete 9 modules involving instructional video with interactive content, practice of cognitive strategies through games, and between-module exercises.

Behavioral: Goal Management Training

Memory & Aging Program

EXPERIMENTAL

The online version of MAP with a therapist moderator on the course discussion pages. MAP takes 5-9 weeks (self-paced) to complete 8 modules involving instructional video with interactive content and practice of memory strategies through various exercises.

Behavioral: Memory & Aging Program

Cambridge Brain Sciences Training

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

This is a commercial and research brain training platform, composed of 7 games that are online adaptations of the standard measures of cognition including working memory and spacial planning.

Behavioral: Cambridge Brain Sciences

Waitlist

NO INTERVENTION

Participants randomized to this arm will receive no additional information or access to intervention programs until after the follow up testing measures are collected, at which point they will be given access to the intervention of their choosing.

Interventions

Goal Management Training BEHAVIORAL

Pre-recorded videos and games combine psycho-education, targeted skills training, and mindfulness practice to teach a system where participants can take control of their attention and cognitive faculties.

Also known as: GMT

Goal Management Training

Memory & Aging Program BEHAVIORAL

Pre-recorded videos and activities combine psycho-education, memory strategy training, and social support to educate about normal memory change in aging, normalize the experience of participants going through it, and equip them to handle age-related memory change.

Also known as: MAP

Memory & Aging Program

Cambridge Brain Sciences BEHAVIORAL

Commercial brain training software available for subscription to the general public and for research studies.

Cambridge Brain Sciences Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Available to participate in all testing and intervention sessions and access to a computer
• Computer familiarity
• Cognitive complaint/concern/frustration

You may not qualify if:

• Health conditions with major effects on cognition, including a current or previous history of stroke, brain surgery, or diagnosed neurological disorder;
• Dependence in instrumental activities of daily living
• Cognitive impairment, defined as performance below cutoff for cognitive impairment on a standardized cognitive screening measure, the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (Welsh et al., 1993)
• Affective impairment, defined as performance below cutoff for depression on standardized depression screen, the PHQ 2/9 (Yesavage et al., 1983)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Baycrest: lead
• Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Baycrest Health Sciences

Toronto, Ontario, M6A2E1, Canada

Location

Related Publications (14)

• Brandt, J., Spencer, M., & Folstein, M. (1988). The Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology, & Behavioral Neurology, 1(2), 111-117.

  BACKGROUND

• Broadbent DE, Cooper PF, FitzGerald P, Parkes KR. The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and its correlates. Br J Clin Psychol. 1982 Feb;21(1):1-16. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1982.tb01421.x.

  PMID: 7126941 BACKGROUND

• Burgess, P. W., Alderman, N., Wilson, B. A., Evans, J. J., & Emslie, H. (1996). The dysexecutive questionnaire. Behavioural assessment of the dysexecutive syndrome. Bury St. Edmunds, UK: Thames Valley Test Company.

  BACKGROUND

• Hampshire A, Highfield RR, Parkin BL, Owen AM. Fractionating human intelligence. Neuron. 2012 Dec 20;76(6):1225-37. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.06.022.

  PMID: 23259956 BACKGROUND

• Levine B, Stuss DT, Winocur G, Binns MA, Fahy L, Mandic M, Bridges K, Robertson IH. Cognitive rehabilitation in the elderly: effects on strategic behavior in relation to goal management. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2007 Jan;13(1):143-52. doi: 10.1017/S1355617707070178.

  PMID: 17166313 BACKGROUND

• Levine B, Robertson IH, Clare L, Carter G, Hong J, Wilson BA, Duncan J, Stuss DT. Rehabilitation of executive functioning: an experimental-clinical validation of goal management training. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2000 Mar;6(3):299-312. doi: 10.1017/s1355617700633052.

  PMID: 10824502 BACKGROUND

• Levine B, Schweizer TA, O'Connor C, Turner G, Gillingham S, Stuss DT, Manly T, Robertson IH. Rehabilitation of executive functioning in patients with frontal lobe brain damage with goal management training. Front Hum Neurosci. 2011 Feb 17;5:9. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2011.00009. eCollection 2011.

  PMID: 21369362 BACKGROUND

• Troyer, A. K. (2001). Improving memory knowledge, satisfaction, and functioning via an education and intervention program for older adults. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 8(4), 256-268

  BACKGROUND

• Troyer AK, Murphy KJ, Anderson ND, Moscovitch M, Craik FI. Changing everyday memory behaviour in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a randomised controlled trial. Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2008 Jan;18(1):65-88. doi: 10.1080/09602010701409684.

  PMID: 17943615 BACKGROUND

• Troyer AK, Rich JB. Psychometric properties of a new metamemory questionnaire for older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2002 Jan;57(1):P19-27. doi: 10.1093/geronb/57.1.p19.

  PMID: 11773220 BACKGROUND

• Walker SN, Sechrist KR, Pender NJ. The Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile: development and psychometric characteristics. Nurs Res. 1987 Mar-Apr;36(2):76-81.

  PMID: 3644262 BACKGROUND

• Welsh, K. A., Breitner, J.C.S., & Magruder-Habib, K.M. (1993) Detection of dementia in the elderly using telephone screening of cognitive status. Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology, and Behavioral Neurology, 6, 103-110.

  BACKGROUND

• Wiegand MA, Troyer AK, Gojmerac C, Murphy KJ. Facilitating change in health-related behaviors and intentions: a randomized controlled trial of a multidimensional memory program for older adults. Aging Ment Health. 2013;17(7):806-15. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2013.789000. Epub 2013 Apr 23.

  PMID: 23611105 BACKGROUND

• Yusupov Rose I, Lass JW, D'Amico D, Zhu L, Rich JB, Levine B, Vandermorris S, Troyer AK. A self-guided e-learning program improves metamemory outcomes in healthy older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Aging Ment Health. 2025 Jun;29(6):1090-1099. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2438839. Epub 2024 Dec 13.

  PMID: 39672101 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Brian Levine, PhD

  Rotman Research Institute

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The study personnel who conduct screening and send pre/post-test surveys to participants are all blinded. Randomizer is blinded to all participant pre-test outcomes. Care providers know what their participants are doing, but not aware of the full study design, including details of the other conditions or outcome test characteristics.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Senior Scientist

Model Details: Participants are screened, undergo a battery of cognitive testing for the pre-test, and then are randomly assigned to one of four intervention groups: MAP, GMT, Cambridge Brain Sciences brain training (active control), or waitlist. After intervention, the participants take the same test battery and complete it once more at 6 week followup.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 12, 2018
• First Posted: July 27, 2018
• Study Start: June 18, 2018
• Primary Completion: August 30, 2020
• Study Completion: August 30, 2020
• Last Updated: July 27, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)