MedPath

Impact of Intensive Computerized Cognitive Training

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Acquired Brain Injury
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mild Neurocognitive Disorder
Interventions
Behavioral: Cognitive Computerized Training
Registration Number
NCT06130735
Lead Sponsor
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Brief Summary

To investigate factors that predict cognitive enhancement following engagement in an intensive Computerized Cognitive Training Protocol.

Detailed Description

To investigate factors that predict cognitive enhancement following engagement in an intensive 6-month, 5 days per week training use the ABI Wellness BEARS platform and Brainex Software Symbol Relations Module.

The study will examine the impact of intensive working memory training on neurocognitive markers of brain plasticity (intervention-related changes) in 1) performance on neuropsychological tests, 2) BDNF levels in blood and salivary, 3) ERP measures of working memory, and 4) resting state fMRI and structural MRI.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patient of the Mass General Brigham Health System with primary attention and executive functioning difficulties and/or a diagnosis of mild cognitive disorder or mild neurocognitive disorder (non-amnestic profile), due to an acquired brain injury (ABI) sustained at least 12 months prior to study contact.
  • Ages 25-65 years old
  • Proficiency in English
  • Willing and able to complete all study-related activities for 12 months, including travel to Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston) for four in-person assessment visits and two serum and saliva sample collections.
  • Access to a computer with webcam and stable internet.
  • A reliable study informant who can complete one questionnaire about participant's cognition/daily functioning, at four time points.
Exclusion Criteria
  • History of alcohol or substance abuse, or dependence, within the past 2 years, as per DSM-5 criteria.
  • High likelihood of an underlying progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
  • Evidence of moderate to severe cognitive disorder, based on a score of 21 or less on the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) (Tombaugh & McIntyre, 1992).
  • Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 (Kroenke et al., 2010) Score ≥ 19, unless deemed by treating provider not to have active depression (e.g., adjustment disorder, grief reaction).
  • Active psychotic symptoms.
  • Severe sensory losses such that participants would unlikely be able to participate in the study training, even with substantial accommodations (self-report of extreme difficulty reading ordinary newspaper print or a performance-tested corrected vision test score of worse than 20/30).
  • Communication difficulties that prevent the participant from effectively participating in this highly interactive study protocol (based on interviewer's rating of a person's ability to be understood and to understand others).
  • Current participation in a pharmacological, or other interventional research trial.
  • Life expectancy of < 2 years.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Computerized Cognitive TrainingCognitive Computerized TrainingSee section of intervention/treatment for additional information.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in cognitive outcome measures6 months

We will use age-corrected standard scores of the NIH toolbox Total Cognitive Composite, Fluid Intelligence Composite, and individual scores on RAVLT, Verbal Fluency, and Trailmaking Task as cognitive outcome measures.

Changes in BDNF Levels in blood and saliva6 months

Using FUJIFILM high sensitivity ELISA kits and commercially available ELISA kits.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Feelings about cognitive/thinking skills6 months

Cognitive Self- Efficacy Questionnaire

Likert scale on feelings people have about their cognition/thinking skills. 0-72 with a higher score indicating more positive feelings regarding the efficacy of ones cognitive/thinking abilities.

Self-report exercise and physical activity6 months

Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (questionnaire).

Measures walking, moderate, and vigorous activity. Zero lower limit, no upper limit. Higher values indicate more physical activity.

Quality of life self-report6 months

Flanagan Quality of Life Scale (questionnaire).

Measures quality of life. Likert scale 0-112, higher values indicate higher quality of life.

Sleep6 months

Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (questionnaire)

Likert scale measuring sleep quality and sleep problems index. 0-60 with greater values representing higher sleep quality and lower sleep problems.

Intervention-related changes in ERP measures, such as the P3 component (P3a and P3b)6 months

1) Measured in response to verbal and visual working memory tasks

Anxiety6 months

Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Item Scale (questionnaire)

Likert scale measuring severity of anxiety. 0-21 with greater values representing more severe anxiety.

Intervention-related changes in resting state fMRI6 months

A group ICA analysis procedure will be applied to pre- and post-intervention rs-fMRI BOLD signal activity. Correlations will be explored between fMRI parameters, cognitive, and training data (e.g NIH toolbox Total Cognitive Composite, Fluid Intelligence Composite, Crystallized Composite, CCT engagement and progress).

Depression6 months

Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (questionnaire)

Likert scale measuring the severity of depression. 0-24 with higher scores representing more severe depression.

Self-report on impact of fatigue6 months

Modified Fatigue Impact Scale

Likert scale on the impact of fatigue on one's physical, cognitive, and psychosocial activity. 0-84 with higher scores indicating a greater impact of fatigue on a person's activities.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Brigham and Women's Hospital

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath