Outcome Predictors of a Cognitive Intervention in aMCI

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Cognitive training has been shown to be successful in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a group at high-risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Moreover, in a randomized controlled trial, the investigators recently found that aMCI patients receiving a cognitive intervention showed stable hypometabolism in FDG-PET, whereas patients in an active control group showed pronounced hypometabolism on follow-up scans in regions typically affected in AD. Previous studies indicate that not all patients respond equally well to a cognitive intervention. Identifying factors that predict response to treatment could help selecting patients for a targeted intervention. A potentially important predictor is cognitive reserve defined as premorbid cognitive performance. The hypothesis is that different levels of cognitive reserve (high cognitive reserve vs. low cognitive reserve) have different neurostructural and neurofunctional correlates and influence treatment response in a different way. Moreover, the impact of white matter lesions on treatment effects will be investigated. The investigator will perform a complex cognitive training program. Forty patients with aMCI (20 with high cognitive reserve, 20 with low cognitive reserve) will be recruited in this study. Since the patients are recruited consecutively, an estimated overall number of 80 will be included and receive the training of whom about 40 will meet the inclusion criteria for our cognitive-reserve-study (high or low cognitive reserve). Data of the whole group will be used to analyze the potential impact of white matter lesions on response to the intervention. Cognitive effects of the intervention will be evaluated by neuropsychological testing. Neurofunctional and neurostructural changes depending on cognitive reserve will be measured using resting state fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). For comparison, a group of 30 aMCI patients will be recruited as an active control group receiving study investigations (neuropsychological testing as well as MRIs), and exercises for self-study at home, not the complex cognitive intervention.

Official Title
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Outcome Predictors of a Complex Cognitive Intervention in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI)

Conditions
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Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: cognitive intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: male or female patients, fulfilling Petersen´s criteria of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) No evidence for other psychiatric axis I disorders according to DSM-IV criteria. No evidence for neurological disorders (e.g. stroke) No uncontrolled arterial hypertension or diabetes mellitus No history of drug / alcohol abuse The patient is able to provide written informed consent to participate in the study. for the cognitive-reserve-study patients, a high (low) cognitive reserve is defined as a verbal IQ score of >/= 120 (</= 110) as assessed by the MWT-B, a German multiple vocabulary test Exclusion Criteria: Evidence for acute psychiatric or neurological disorders Uncontrolled arterial hypertension or diabetes mellitus History of drug / alcohol abuse No ability to participate and no willing to give informed consent and comply with the study restrictions.
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| cognitive intervention group<br> | Behavioral: cognitive intervention<br>* Complex modular cognitive intervention focussing on memory aspects (e.g. internal memory strategies, external memory aids), other cognitive functions (e.g. attention) as well as social interactions.<br>|
| active control group<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in California Verbal Learning Test |  | month 0 and month 6 | 
| Change in overall cognition (ADAScog) |  | month 0 and month 6 | 
| Change in Face-Name Learning Test |  | month 0 and month 6 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in appraisal of quality of life (SF-36) |  | month 0 and 6 | 
| Change in neurofunctional MRT (resting state fMRI) |  | month 0 and 6 | 
| Change in depression scores (Beck Depression Inventory) |  | month 0 and month 6 | 
| Change in working memory (Digit Span) |  | month 0 and month 6 | 
| Change in attention (Trail Making Test) |  | month 0 and month 6 | 
| Change in executive functions (Stroop Test) |  | month 0 and month 6 | 
| Change in neurostructural MRI (diffusion tensor imaging) |  | month 0 and month 6 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive intervention, cognitive reserve