NCT06068582

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effectiveness of two innovative interventions aimed at preventing cognitive decline and work-related problems to enhanced usual care in improving quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis. Secondary objectives are:

  • to compare the effectiveness of the investigated interventions in improving cognitive, psychological, and work functioning, and in enhancing the brain's functional network
  • to examine which factors (i.e., baseline cognitive, psychological, work, and brain MRI-parameters) are predictive of the response to the investigated interventions
  • aim to qualitatively reflect on the process and outcome of the investigated interventions considering the perspectives of relevant stakeholders to allow for smooth and successful implementation in clinical practice Participants will follow the intervention for four months, with follow-up measurements at six months after intervention and 12 months after intervention.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
270

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable multiple-sclerosis

Timeline
4mo left

Started Apr 2023

Longer than P75 for not_applicable multiple-sclerosis

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress91%
Apr 2023Sep 2026

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 16, 2023

Completed
4 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 25, 2023

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 5, 2023

Completed
2.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 1, 2026

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2026

Last Updated

April 3, 2025

Status Verified

March 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

3.4 years

First QC Date

August 25, 2023

Last Update Submit

March 31, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

Multiple SclerosisCognitionExerciseEmploymentPreventionHealth-related Quality of Life

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Quality of Life

    Quality of life assessed using the 36-item Short Form. Item-scores are summed and transformed into a total score that ranges 0-100. Higher score corresponds with better quality of life.

    Baseline, Month 4, Month 10, and Month 16

Secondary Outcomes (35)

  • Information processing speed

    Baseline, Month 4, Month 10, and Month 16

  • Information processing speed

    Baseline, Month 4, Month 10, and Month 16

  • Verbal fluency

    Baseline, Month 4, Month 10, and Month 16

  • Spatial Processing

    Baseline, Month 4, Month 10, and Month 16

  • Verbal New Learning and Memory

    Baseline, Month 4, Month 10, and Month 16

  • +30 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (3)

Strengthening the brain

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive 30 minutes of 1-on-1 fitness training, dietary advice, and mental coaching, in addition to twice 20 minutes fitness at home, and 60 minutes of cognitive training each week for four months.

Behavioral: Strenghtening the brain

Strengthening the mind

EXPERIMENTAL

Partiicpants receive biweekly 1-on-1 coaching by a trained work-coach who has MS to identify challenges at work and implement solutions. It is completed when satisfactory solutions have been implemented for all challenges or after four months.

Behavioral: Strengthening the mind

Enhanced usual care

NO INTERVENTION

Participants receiving general information about cognitive impairment in MS and following care as usual for four months.

Interventions

Lifestyle intervention containing physical exercise, lifestyle coaching, and cognitive training. The programme contains weekly 30 minutes 1-on-1 fitness and lifestyle coaching with two moments of exercise at home for 20 minutes. Online computerized cognitive training will be done for 60 minutes per week.

Strengthening the brain

Work-focused intervention combining the capability approach and the participatory approach. Together with a work-coach who has been diagnosed with MS themselves, participants will assess important work values, discover challenges participants are facing, think of solutions for these challenges, develop a plan of action and implement these solutions.

Strengthening the mind

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 67 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Confirmed MS diagnosis according to the McDonald 2017 criteria
  • Age between 18 and 67
  • no current relapse or steroid treatment in the six weeks prior to study visits
  • presence of mild cognitive deficits (at least one test with a Z-score of -1.0 to -1.99 below norm scores of healthy controls on the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS) battery
  • being able to participate in an exercise intervention (i.e., EDSS \< 6.0)
  • fulfilling safety criteria for MRI (no metal inside body, not pregnant, no claustrophobia)

You may not qualify if:

  • presence of neurological (other than MS) and psychiatric disorders
  • a current or history of drug or alcohol abuse
  • being unable to speak or read Dutch
  • currently on sick leave for a period of 6 weeks or longer
  • currently pregnant

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VUmc

Amsterdam, Netherlands

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Aarts J, Saddal SRD, Bosmans JE, de Groot V, de Jong BA, Klein M, Ruitenberg MFL, Schaafsma FG, Schippers ECF, Schoonheim MM, Uitdehaag BMJ, van der Veen S, Waskowiak PT, Widdershoven GAM, van der Hiele K, Hulst HE; Don't be late! consortium. Don't be late! Postponing cognitive decline and preventing early unemployment in people with multiple sclerosis: a study protocol. BMC Neurol. 2024 Jan 15;24(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s12883-023-03513-y.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Multiple SclerosisMotor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNSAutoimmune Diseases of the Nervous SystemNervous System DiseasesDemyelinating DiseasesAutoimmune DiseasesImmune System DiseasesBehavior

Study Officials

  • Hanneke E Hulst

    Leiden University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Masking Details
Randomization will be done by investigators who are not involved in data collection and analyses. Intervention will be carried out by people not involved in data collection and analyses
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 25, 2023

First Posted

October 5, 2023

Study Start

April 16, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Last Updated

April 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

Data relating to the main outcomes will be shared in online repository. Coded data will be published in an online scientific archive for the purpose of future research, in line with Open Science practices, and for the verification of findings. These data would not be traceable as they are not linked in any way to personal data. MRI data will be stored in OSF and other platforms that may accommodate the large capacity of the data set.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ANALYTIC CODE
Time Frame
All data will become available after the project has finished. An embargo period of one year will be used. Coded data will be published in an online scientific archive without unlimited time.
Access Criteria
Coded data that cannot be traceable to the participant identifying information will be published in an online repository

Locations