Clinical trial NCT05380739: Memory Training and Neural Plasticity
Official title: Working Memory Training and Neural Plasticity in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment
Keywords: Working Memory
Training
fMRI
Lead sponsor: University of Michigan
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2022-05-19
Enrollment: 30
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Participants in the MCI group will be assigned to receive either in-person (Arm1) or online WM training (Arm2), based on their preference and availability of equipment ensuring a stable internet connection, for 10 training sessions. Participants in the HC group will receive online training (Arm3). Data for HC who received in-person training was already collected (HUM00033133). WM performance in conjunction with brain imaging will be assessed within-subject, twice pre-training (Time1 and Time2) and once post-training (Time3), as well as \~1 month after training (Follow-up). The Time1 vs. Time2 comparison will reveal task-exposure effects, whereas the Time2 vs. Time3 comparison will reveal training effects.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This study will evaluate the efficacy of working memory training in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Detailed description: Working memory (WM) is the ability to hold information actively in mind and is fundamental for higher-order cognition. This pilot study aims to (1) evaluate the efficacy of WM training in older adults with MCI and (2) understand if and how it works. The study will use behavioral and brain imaging assessments to see whether WM training changes how participants learn and remember information. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) methods will be used. The study will also use cognitive tests and questionnaires to determine whether participants' cognitive abilities change with training. The study will enroll participants with a diagnosis of MCI as well as cognitively intact older adults (healthy controls, HC).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* MCI Diagnosis
* Right-handedness
* MRI-eligibility for MRI participants

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of other contributing neurological or medical conditions known to affect cognitive functioning
* Significant mental illness
* Sensory impairments that limit ability to participate
* History of alcohol or drug abuse/dependence

Primary outcomes:
measure: Gains in WM training task performance
timeFrame: 2 weeks
measure: Changes in brain activation within the WM network
timeFrame: 2 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Changes in criterion (fMRI) WM task performance
timeFrame: 2 weeks
measure: Changes in functional connectivity within and between canonical brain networks
timeFrame: 2 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Ann Arbor
country: United States
facility: University of Michigan
state: Michigan
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Michigan
name: Alexandru Iordan, Ph.D.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: