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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether digital tools can boost cognitive skills like working memory and inhibitory control. Participants will engage with one of two digital interventions, Coherence or Worder, to determine which is more effective. The trial seeks medically healthy individuals over 60 with at least 12 years of education who experience below-average cognitive performance or mild cognitive impairment, but not dementia. Participants will complete activities from home, beginning with cognitive tests, followed by an 8-week digital program, and concluding with follow-up assessments. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance cognitive health for many.

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 prior data suggests that these digital interventions are safe for cognitive function improvement?

Previous studies have tested digital tools like Coherence and Worder to assess their impact on thinking skills. Research has shown that these tools are generally safe and easy to use. For instance, a small study on a similar digital training program found no major side effects, indicating that participants did not experience harm.

Coherence and Worder are digital programs designed to enhance skills such as memory and attention. Reviews of similar digital tools have demonstrated their effectiveness in boosting these skills without causing serious safety issues. Although specific side effects for Coherence and Worder are not listed, the absence of reported problems in related studies suggests they are safe for use. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Coherence and Worder interventions because they offer a fresh approach to enhancing working memory. Unlike traditional treatments, which might rely on medication or cognitive exercises, these digital interventions provide interactive and engaging platforms designed to improve memory function through targeted activities. This innovative method could potentially offer a more accessible and scalable solution, reaching a wider audience without the need for pharmaceuticals. The unique engagement strategies employed by these interventions could lead to more significant improvements in cognitive performance, making them a promising option for individuals looking to boost their memory capabilities.

What evidence suggests that this trial's digital interventions could be effective for improving cognitive function?

Research has shown that digital tools like Coherence and Worder can improve working memory. In this trial, participants will be assigned to either the Coherence Intervention or the Worder Intervention. Studies on Coherence suggest that a strong sense of coherence—seeing life as understandable and manageable—links to better memory and attention, potentially enhancing working memory and overall brain function. For Worder, evidence indicates that training in verbal working memory can significantly improve memory capacity and reading skills. These findings support the idea that these digital tools could boost cognitive skills related to working memory and impulse control. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Theodore Zanto, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749596X20301261

The effect of manipulating working memory on coherence ... Both experiments showed that the external working memory load interfered with coherence monitoring, as reflected by reduced responses to inconsistencies.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10530428/

A Recruitment Through Coherence Theory of Working ... Here we outline a conceptual framework describing interactions between these areas during working memory, and review evidence for key elements of this model.

3. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.835415/full

Sense of Coherence Mediates the Relationship Between ... Both sense of coherence (SoC) and CR were positively associated with verbal memory, reasoning and attention, working memory, and global cognition.

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/348458691_Minding_the_load_or_loading_the_mind_The_effect_of_manipulating_working_memory_on_coherence_monitoring

The effect of manipulating working memory on coherence ... Both experiments showed that the external working memory load interfered with coherence monitoring, as reflected by reduced responses to ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5619293/

Working memory intervention programs for adults This review demonstrated that the WM domain can improve, especially in brain-damaged individuals. However, these results need to be taken with caution because ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11395001/

Impact of VR-Based Cognitive Training on Working ... This pilot study aims to investigate the impact of a cognitive training program utilizing VR on young adults diagnosed with intellectual developmental ...

7. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-inhibitory-control-5-2025-2d9b1

Digital Intervention for Working Memory Is the digital intervention for working memory safe for humans? ... What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Coherence, Worder for working memory?

8. explorationpub.com explorationpub.com/Journals/edht/Article/101151

Virtual reality and mixed reality in the assessment of spatial ... The review also examines key factors influencing spatial memory performance, such as age, sex, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Digital tools such ...

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395621006671

Pilot study of a mobile application-based intervention to ... Digital intervention could change neural activity and improve children's attention and cognitive function. Given our findings, we suggested that mobile ...

10. neuroscape.ucsf.edu neuroscape.ucsf.edu/technology/interventions-and-diagnostics/

Interventions and Diagnostics - Neuroscape The tasks in ACE are standard tests that assess different aspects of cognitive control (attention, working memory, and goal management), modified by ...