Digital Intervention for Working Memory

Overseen By Melissa Arioli

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Disqualifiers: Under 60, Neurological, Psychiatric, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

150 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if engaging with an digital intervention may improve cognitive function. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does engagement in with a digital intervention improve working memory? 2. Does engagement in with a digital intervention improve inhibitory control? Researchers will compare two different digital interventions to assess whether they may be helpful in improving cognitive function. Participants will conduct study activities remotely (e.g., at-home): 1. Baseline Assessment. Complete a series of cognitive assessments and surveys. 2. Intervention. Engage in a digital intervention for up to 8 weeks. 3. Post Intervention Assessment. Complete the same cognitive assessments and surveys as the Baseline Assessment. 4. Follow-Up Assessment. Six months after the intervention ends, participants will complete the same cognitive assessments and surveys as the Baseline Assessment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Coherence, Worder for working memory?

Research shows that computerized working memory training can improve working memory, cognition, and psychological health in patients with brain injuries, suggesting that similar digital interventions like Coherence, Worder might also be effective. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the digital intervention for working memory safe for humans?

The studies reviewed do not specifically mention safety concerns, suggesting that the computerized working memory interventions, like Cogmed, are generally considered safe for use in humans, including children and those with brain injuries. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

How does the treatment Coherence, Worder differ from other treatments for working memory issues?

Coherence, Worder is a digital intervention that likely involves computerized training, which can offer advantages such as precise timing and automatic measurement of performance, unlike traditional methods. This approach may provide a more engaging and adaptive experience, potentially leading to better outcomes for individuals with working memory challenges. ^{1 3 8 9 10}

Research Team

Theodore Zanto, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals experiencing issues with impulse control and working memory. Participants will engage in study activities from home, including baseline assessments, an 8-week digital intervention period, post-intervention assessments, and a follow-up after six months.

Inclusion Criteria

English fluency

My vision is normal or corrected to normal.

I am an older adult in good health, possibly with some memory issues but no dementia.

Exclusion Criteria

I am younger than 60 years old.

Visually or hearing impaired without correction to normal

Clinical diagnosis of dementia or AD8 score of >4

Timeline

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete a series of cognitive assessments and surveys to establish baseline cognitive function.

Up to 120 minutes

Remote sessions

Intervention

Participants engage with a digital intervention app for 25-45 minutes per day, 5 days a week, for up to 8 weeks.

8 weeks

Remote engagement

Post Intervention Assessment

Participants complete the same cognitive assessments and surveys as the Baseline Assessment immediately after the intervention.

Similar to Baseline Assessment

Remote sessions

Follow-Up Assessment

Six months after the intervention ends, participants complete the same cognitive assessments and surveys as the Baseline Assessment.

Similar to Baseline Assessment

Remote sessions

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Coherence
• Worder

Trial Overview The trial is testing two digital interventions named Worder and Coherence to see if they can improve cognitive functions like working memory and inhibitory control. Researchers will compare the effectiveness of these interventions through various stages of assessment.

Participant Groups

Group I: Coherence Intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will engage with the Coherence Intervention.

Group II: Worder Intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will engage with the Worder intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Francisco

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Computerized training of working memory in a group of patients suffering from acquired brain injury. [2014]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can computerized working memory training improve impaired working memory, cognition and psychological health? [2014]

3. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A multi-component, adaptive Working Memory Assessment Battery (WoMAB): validation and norms in an Italian population sample. [2023]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rehabilitation of verbal working memory after left hemisphere stroke. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive remediation of working memory deficits: durability of training effects in severely impaired and less severely impaired schizophrenia. [2019]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility and acceptability of a remotely administered computerized intervention to address cognitive late effects among childhood cancer survivors. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized study of computerized working memory training and effects on functioning in everyday life for patients with brain injury. [2015]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of computerized working memory training program in Chinese community settings for children with poor working memory. [2018]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The episodic buffer: a new component of working memory? [2022]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

eCorsi: implementation and testing of the Corsi block-tapping task for digital tablets. [2021]