Evaluation of Adherence and Engagement in a Cognitive Training Program for Older Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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There is evidence that computerized cognitive training can improve cognition in healthy older adults and in people at risk of developing dementia, although an effective model to implement the training in the daily life of people and to ensure engagement is missing. This project studies the adherence, engagement and progress on computerized cognitive training exercises that were offered by the Association of Retirees from the Telecommunications (ASASTEL) to its associates. One hundred subjects in three different cities (Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia) received licenses to perform the exercises on line and were followed by a team of psychologists. We will evaluate adherence, engagement and progress on the computerized cognitive training exercises of those subjects.

Official Title
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Evaluation of Adherence and Engagement in a Cognitive Training Program for Older Adults

Conditions
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Aging

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Computerized cognitive training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: To be an associate of ASASTEL, or the spouse of an associate, To have access to the internet at home and proficiency on accessing and navigating the internet, Availability to be evaluated and followed by the professional team. Exclusion Criteria: Any medical condition that precludes performing the computerized training exercises, Score below 27 points in the Mini Mental State Examination (MEEM), Moderated or advanced dementia.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 60 Years
Maximum Age: 99 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Cognitive Training<br> | Other: Computerized cognitive training<br>* The cognitive training program consists of a set of computerized exercises designed to improve the speed and accuracy of auditory information processing while engaging neuromodulatory systems involved in attention and reward. These exercises continuously adjust the difficulty level to user performance to maintain an approximately 85% rate of correct responses. Trials with correct responses are rewarded with points and animations.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Training adherence | Training adherence will be defined as a continuous variable (number of hours of training completed by the participant). | 1 year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individual gains on the computerized exercises | The computerized cognitive training platform, called BrainHQ, provided by Posit Science Inc, provides the individual gains on the computerized exercises with training. | 1 year | 
| Motivation with the computerized training exercise | Motivation will be assessed by quantitative (measured as a percentage of all stimulus sets available in the exercises of the BrainHq computerized cognitive training platform) and qualitative questionnaires (Adapted Ultrech Engagement Scale - UWES). | 1 year | 
| Training adherence (dichotomic variable) | Additionally training adherence will be defined as a dichotomic variable (below or above 10 hours of training). | 1 year |