Memory Drilling for Memory Loss

(PMIS Trial)

Overseen By Sabine Kunrath, MSc., MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles

Disqualifiers: Acute substance abuse, No computer access, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 10

Duration: 2 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether a technique called memory drilling can help veterans remember future tasks more effectively. It compares standard memory training with the addition of memory drilling to assess improvements. Participants will join an intensive treatment program and complete memory assessments before, immediately after, and three months following the program. Veterans enrolled in the Operation Mend Intensive Treatment Program are eligible to participate. As an unphased trial, this study provides veterans with a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance memory training techniques.

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's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that memory drilling is safe for veterans?

Research has shown that memory drilling, a focused practice to boost memory, is generally well-tolerated. Studies on similar computer-based memory exercises have been conducted with individuals who have schizophrenia-related conditions. These studies found no major safety concerns, suggesting that this method is safe. Since this trial involves mental exercises rather than new drugs or surgeries, there is no high risk of side effects like those often seen with medications or operations. Mental exercises typically have fewer and milder side effects, if any. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Memory Drilling for memory loss because it introduces a novel approach by incorporating computerized "memory drills" into cognitive training sessions. Unlike the standard of care, which typically involves cognitive training and cognitive processing therapy without spaced practice, Memory Drilling adds an innovative layer of digital practice. This method focuses on enhancing prospective memory (PM) through repeated, strategic exercises, potentially offering a more interactive and dynamic way of improving memory retention and recall. By combining traditional strategies with digital tools, Memory Drilling aims to provide more comprehensive and effective memory support compared to current standard practices.

What evidence suggests that memory drilling could be effective for improving memory in veterans?

Research shows that memory drills might help improve memory. In this trial, participants in the experimental group will receive additional computerized "memory drills" training alongside standard cognitive training. While memory training alone has shown limited benefits for some with memory problems, adding memory drills could enhance its effectiveness. Previous studies have found that mental exercises can improve memory, especially compared to inactivity. Memory drills involve repeatedly practicing memory tasks, which strengthens the brain's ability to recall information later. This method aims to help people remember future tasks more effectively. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Delany Thrasher, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, Los Angeles

Kevin Bickart, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, Los Angeles

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for veterans experiencing memory loss or mild cognitive impairment. Participants must complete the Operation Mend intensive treatment program and can do so with standard care, with or without PTSD-focused therapy, or add memory drilling to their regimen.

Inclusion Criteria

All patients accepted and scheduled to participate in an Operation Mend BRAIN Intensive Treatment Program and PTSD Intensive Treatment Program are eligible to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients with acute substance abuse disorders are not accepted into Operation Mend programs and are therefore excluded from the study.

Patients who are scheduled for arrival at the ITP sooner than 2.5 or 3 weeks are not eligible to participate for logistical reasons.

Patients who do not have tablet, iPad, or computer access are not eligible to participate due to the technical requirements of the computer-based assessments.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants complete the Operation Mend intensive treatment program with either standard care or standard care plus memory drilling

2 weeks

7 sessions (in-person)

Assessment

Participants complete a virtual memory assessment at entrance, exit, and three months post exit

15-17 weeks

3 assessments (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Memory Drilling

Trial Overview The study tests if adding memory drills to standard memory training helps improve veterans' ability to remember future tasks. It compares typical training against training plus drilling using assessments at the start, end, and three months after the program.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Memory Drilling BRAIN ITP (EXP) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

In the BRAIN ITP, the standard PM training for both the experimental (EXP) and control group (CON1), takes place during the patient's individual cognitive training sessions with the cognitive trainer. In total, there are seven sessions. At each of these sessions the cognitive trainer will review a new compensatory strategy for PM and assign a naturalistic PM practice task as homework to practice the strategy. The experimental group will receive the additional computerized "memory drills" training.

Group II: Standard of Care PTSD ITP (CON2) Active Control 2 Interventions

The PTSD ITP group (CON2) will receive the traditional standard of care (cognitive training and cognitive processing therapy). There is no spaced training or practice.

Group III: Standard of Care BRAIN ITP (CON1) Active Control 1 Intervention

In the BRAIN ITP, the standard PM training for both the experimental (EXP) and control group (CON1), takes place during the patient's individual cognitive training sessions with the cognitive trainer. In total, there are seven sessions. At each of these sessions the cognitive trainer will review a new compensatory strategy for PM and assign a naturalistic PM practice task as homework to practice the strategy. The CON1 group will not receive the additional memory drilling.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, Los Angeles

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,594

Recruited

10,430,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The USMART program, a tablet-based spaced retrieval training, showed a significant improvement in memory recall among 41 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) over a 4-week period, with an effect size of 0.49.

No adverse events were reported during the study, indicating that USMART is a safe and well-accepted intervention for enhancing memory retrieval in older adults with MCI.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of the Ubiquitous Spaced Retrieval-based Memory Advancement and Rehabilitation Training (USMART) program among patients with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled crossover trial. Han, JW., Son, KL., Byun, HJ., et al.[2018]

A 12-week cognitive stimulation intervention at the Memory Centre Erlangen showed positive effects on cognitive performance in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), with significant improvements in attention, general cognitive speed, and short-term memory.

Even patients diagnosed with dementia did not experience a decline in cognitive abilities during the intervention, and some showed improvements in the same cognitive areas, suggesting the potential benefits of cognitive training for various levels of memory impairment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Erlangen Memory Center--a partial inpatient gerontopsychiatric facility]. Engel, S., Mück, A., Steinwachs, KC., et al.[2015]

Memory stimulation programs, including errorless learning, spaced retrieval, and dyadic approaches, show promise in improving memory function in Alzheimer's disease patients based on preliminary evidence.

These techniques can be used alone or in combination, suggesting a flexible approach to enhance memory stimulation in individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A critical review of memory stimulation programs in Alzheimer's disease. Grandmaison, E., Simard, M.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2733239/

Effect of memory impairment on training outcomes in ACTIVE Results indicated that memory-impaired participants failed to benefit from Memory training but did show normal training gains after reasoning and speed training ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06656637

To Drill or Not to Drill: Do Memory Drills Help Train the ... The goal of this clinical trial is to memory drilling works in improving the ability to remember to do something later in treatment-seeking veterans.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568163714000208

The impact of cognitive training and mental stimulation on ... Compared to no intervention, cognitive training improved performance on measures of memory (face-name recall, p = 0.02; immediate recall, p = 0.02; paired ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11948196/

Impact of cognitive rehabilitation interventions on memory ... RESULTS. Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria. VR interventions significantly improved memory and cognitive function (mean difference: 4.2 ± 1.3, P < 0.05 ...

5. aaic.alz.org aaic.alz.org/releases-2025/us-pointer-study-results-announced.asp

U.S. POINTER Lifestyle Intervention Improved Cognition For secondary outcomes, the increase in executive function z-score was greater in STR than SG by 0.037 SD per year (95% CI, 0.010-0.064).

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0920996418304791

The efficacy of computerized cognitive drill and practice ... This study evaluates the available evidence for the efficacy of computerized cognitive drill and practice training for patients with schizophrenia-spectrum ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10740219/

Memory support training and lifestyle modifications to ... The overall objective of this study is to test, in a RCT, a multidomain intervention combining training in rehabilitation-based memory support ...

8. pubs.asha.org pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-23-00231

Memory and Traumatic Brain Injury: Assessment and ... Episodic memory was the least often treated system at 23.08% (n = 27/117), but it was the system most endorsed to be treated sometimes at 67.52% (n = 79/117).