Working Memory Training for Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

No longer recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Aaron R Seitz, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Northeastern University

Disqualifiers: Dementia, Neurological disease, Severe anxiety, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore how working memory training can improve cognitive function in older adults. Participants will engage in various memory exercises, including Multisensory, N-back, and Span exercises, designed to enhance memory and thinking skills. The study will test both game-like and straightforward versions of these exercises to determine which works best for different individuals. The trial seeks participants aged 50 to 85 who speak English and are not involved in other memory training studies. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance cognitive health in older adults.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It might be best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that these working memory training programs are safe for older adults?

Research has shown that multisensory cognitive training is generally safe and well-tolerated by older adults. Studies indicate that this training can improve focus and memory, particularly for those with cognitive challenges. A review found that multisensory environments can reduce symptoms like agitation in older adults with dementia.

For N-back training exercises, evidence suggests they are safe for various groups. One study reported improvements in memory scores, although results can vary. Little evidence of negative effects exists, indicating it's likely safe for most people.

Regarding span training, research supports its safety and potential benefits. Studies have shown it can positively impact memory and thinking skills, including problem-solving. Reports of negative side effects are rare, suggesting it's well-tolerated.

Overall, these training methods appear safe for older adults, with a low risk of negative effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these memory training techniques because they offer a fresh approach to tackling cognitive impairment in older adults. Unlike traditional medications or therapies, these methods focus on enhancing working memory through interactive tasks like multisensory exercises, the N-back task, and span tasks. These techniques aim to directly stimulate and strengthen cognitive processes, potentially offering quicker and more sustainable improvements. By using a structured training schedule with short, frequent sessions, these methods could deliver noticeable benefits in just a couple of weeks, making them an appealing alternative or complement to existing therapies.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cognitive impairment in older adults?

Research shows that training working memory can improve thinking skills. In this trial, participants will engage in various memory training exercises. Studies have found that using different types of sensory input, known as multisensory training, enhances overall brain function and reduces restlessness in older adults with conditions like dementia. Specifically, N-back training, which participants in this trial may receive, improved both practiced skills and other thinking skills, increasing overall memory capacity. Another method, span training, also part of this trial, improved attention and working memory, with some benefits lasting over time. These findings suggest that these memory training methods might boost cognitive abilities in older adults. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Aaron R Seitz, Phd

Principal Investigator

University of California, Riverside

Susanne M Jaeggi, Phd

Principal Investigator

University of California, Irvine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for older adults aged 50-85 who speak English and can follow the study's procedures. They must not have psychological or neurological conditions that affect consent, be involved in other memory studies, or have certain cognitive impairments as measured by specific tests.

Inclusion Criteria

50-85 years of age

Does not have a psychological or neurological condition that would prevent being able to give consent to participate

Not currently involved in any other cognitive or memory training studies

Exclusion Criteria

A final total score below 17 on Montreal Cognitive Assessment - Blind (telephone) version

Medical illness requiring treatment and/or significant absences during the study timeline

Score of 10 or more on the Generalized Anxiety Questionnaire (GAD7; Spitzer et al., 2006, Archives of Internal Medicine), indicating presence of moderate or severe anxiety

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Pre-test

Participants complete questionnaires and computerized cognitive assessments

1 week

Remote or in-person

First Training Phase

Participants undergo 20 sessions of working memory training with either gamified or non-gamified tasks

2 weeks

Remote or in-person

Mid-test

Participants complete assessments to evaluate progress after the first training phase

1 week

Remote or in-person

Second Training Phase

Participants undergo 20 sessions of a different type of working memory training

2 weeks

Remote or in-person

Post-test

Participants complete assessments to evaluate progress after the second training phase

1 week

Remote or in-person

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in cognitive abilities and complete follow-up assessments

4 weeks

3 sessions (remote or in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Multisensory
• N-back
• Span

Trial Overview The study examines how different working memory training methods affect older adults. It uses a randomized crossover design to test gamified vs non-gamified tasks and multisensory vs visual-only information to see which improves learning based on individual cognitive abilities.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Condition 1 Active Control 3 Interventions

Training type 1 will be administered in the first part of the crossover trial and Training type 2 will be administered in the second part of the trial. Each training part consists of 20 twenty-minute long sessions with the recommended frequency of 2 sessions per work day. Thus each training part can be completed in 10 work days (2 weeks).

Group II: Condition 2 Active Control 3 Interventions

Training type 2 will be administered in the first part of the crossover trial and Training type 1 will be administered in the second part of the trial. Each training part consists of 20 twenty-minute long sessions with the recommended frequency of 2 sessions per work day. Thus each training part can be completed in 10 work days (2 weeks).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Northeastern University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

103

Recruited

72,600+

University of California, Irvine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

580

Recruited

4,943,000+

University of California, Riverside

Collaborator

Trials

33

Recruited

14,400+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10312047/

Efficacy of multi-domain cognitive function training ... Another study [39] demonstrated that eight to 12 weeks of computerised cognitive training improved immediate memory; this might be due to the ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2274580725000354

Multisensory stimulation reduces neuropsychiatric ... The meta-analysis revealed that multisensory stimulation considerably reduced agitation in older adults with dementia, with a large effect size.

3. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41746-023-00987-5

Computerized cognitive training for memory functions in ... Supervised CCT showed improvements in verbal memory (0.72 (0.45–0.98)), visual memory (0.51 (0.22–0.79)), and working memory (0.33 (0.01–0.66)).

4. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/15/5475

The Potential of Virtual Reality-Based Multisensory ... Seven out of nine eligible studies in MCI reported significant improvements in global cognitive function (MoCA, CERAD-K, MMSE). Some studies showed improvements ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6236237/

N‐back training and transfer effects revealed by behavioral ... We considered an N‐back working memory (WM) training task and verified whether it improves both trained WM and untrained cognitive functions.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12183989/

Multisensory stimulation reduces neuropsychiatric symptoms ... The meta-analysis revealed that multisensory stimulation considerably reduced agitation in older adults with dementia, with a large effect size.

7. ons.org ons.org/publications-research/cjon/26/1/patients-breast-cancer-receiving-chemotherapy-effects-multisensory

Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy The results showed that multisensory stimulation training was more effective than audiovisual training in memory restoration and executive function enhancement.

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12347118/

The Potential of Virtual Reality-Based Multisensory ... Background: This systematic review investigates the role of virtual reality (VR)-based multisensory cognitive training in cognitive function ...

9. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/1/149

Multisensory Stimulation in Rehabilitation of Dementia Studies have demonstrated that extended exposure to multisensory environments can improve focus and working memory, as well as slow down the decline in language ...

10. alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13715

Sensory and motor deficits as contributors to early cognitive ... Systematic review: Age-related sensory and motor impairment are associated with elevated risk of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's ...